Live PD is the ratings-winning law enforcement ride-along show that airs on Friday and Saturday evenings at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network. Videographers embed with officers from eight different police agencies.

Because of its often intense action, unpredictability,  plus quirky and humorous, and sometimes mundane, interactions between cops and citizens, Live PD is perhaps the closest thing that even approaches appointment TV anymore in the fragmented entertainment space.

As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known, and criminal charges may have been reduced, dismissed, or never filed.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.

Many subjects who appear on the show are covered with tattoos (as are some of the cops), love cigarettes, and often have warrants, along with carrying contraband on their person and/or in their vehicles, the latter which are often unregistered and/or uninsured.

Drivers often claim to hold a valid driver’s license, but for some inexplicable reason, they also often don’t carry it with them.

Some, but not all, of the subjects express excitement about being on Live PD.

In switching quickly from sequence to sequence, Live PD sometimes does not always provide an update of how a particular encounter was resolved, if at all.

A recap of the April 5 and 6, 2019, episodes of Live PD follows.

‘Live PD’ Season 3, Episode 53, April 5, 2019

Along with Live PD studio co-hosts Dan Abrams and Tom Morris, Jr., Slidell, La., officer Jake Morris is sitting in the analyst chair in place of Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larson.

  • Salinas, CA: Unregistered sex offender arrested on 26 charges.
  • Greene County, MO: Traffic stop, no brake lights. K-9 sweep for drugs. No charges.
  • Salinas, CA (pretaped segment): Subject arrested in connection with a stolen car. Animal control took his dog to pound until subject bonds out.
  • Williamson County, Tex.: reckless driver traffic stop. Subject apparently failed field sobriety test (can’t follow officer’s finger). Abrams: “When you’re falling down, allegedly, that is not a good part of one of these field sobriety tests.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol: Disabled vehicle with two flat tires (allegedly struck curb). Car search. Charged with DUI medication. Abrams: “Apparently not all the blue pills are made the made, the same purposes.”
  • Richland County, S.C.: Traffic stop outside convenience store. Legal shotgun found in vehicle. No charges.
  • Greene County, Mo.: Traffic stop. Subject: “I’m just a girl that bought a truck.” K-9 deployed. Deputies cited her for no insurance, no matching plates, and drug paraphernalia. Abrams: “That might explain why she’s been pulled over so many times. When plates don’t match, it’s a red flag.”
  • Slidell, La.: Traffic stop. License plate light and rear brake lights out. Released with warning.
  • Warwick, R.I.: kid locked in car. Released. All okay.
  • Slidell, La. (pretaped segment): Traffic stop for burned out license plate light. Officers left scene to pursue a motorcyclist for reckless driving and running red lights. Motorcycle operator arrested outside NASA Space Center entrance in Mississippi near the Louisiana border on felony charge. Abrams: “A traffic stop for a broken plate nearly ended in a cosmic adventure.”
  • Williamson County, Tex.: Traffic stop for using high beams. Deputy encountered “overwhelming smell of marijuana.” K-9 probable cause search. Controlled substance pills allegedly found. Separate incident involving bystander who may be from the same family. Felony narcotics arrest for driver, and public intoxication charge for other subject.
  • Salinas, Cal.: Truck ran into fire hydrant and fled the scene. Fire department awaiting arrival of power company to disable nearby power lines before they can shut off gushing water.
  • Warwick, R.I. (pretaped segment): Subject in bar acting strangely. Fire rescue administered Narcan and transported him to hospital. Abrams: “You know, they say liquor before beer and you’re in the clear. But beer followed by fentanyl. That’s a different story.”
  • Slidell, La.: Traffic stop for burned out license plate light. One of the subjects in the vehicle had a warrant and also admitted to needle stored in groin area.
  • Williamson County, Tex: Pursuit of speeding and fleeing motorcyclist. Subject taken to juvenile justice center for felony evading and possession charges.
  • Greene County, Mo.: Traffic stop. Unregistered vehicle. K-9 deployed. Subject charged with stolen plates.
  • Crime of the Week, Beachwood, Ohio: Alleged car thief steals police cruiser and wild chase ensues leading to arrest. Suspect faces multiple felony charges. Abrams: “When you steal a police car, they tend to throw the book at you.”
  • Franklin County, Ohio: Report of a person with gun in restaurant. The situation is confusing. Responding officers find blood spots at location, but no suspect. Nor do they find an injured party after canvassing the area. A deputy describes the situation as no victim, no crime, and uncooperative witnesses. Abrams: “Unsatisfying conclusion for everyone involved.” Follow-up: Citizen flags down officers and says he spotted a bleeding man fleeing the area. Search continues. No resolution by end of episode.
  • Warwick, RI: Officer spots couple parked in a location after hours. Female subject, who allegedly gave officer a false name, charged with violating no contact order in effect with male subject.
  • Greene County, Mo: Well-being check. Confusing situation. Older subject asked deputy to try to use a set of keys to open front door of his house. Front door opened successfully.
  • Slidell, La.: Pedestrian having trouble standing up. Admitted to having a crack pipe on his person.
  • Wanted segment, Slidell, La.:
  • Williamson County, Tex.: Traffic stop for not using turn signals. Vehcile labeled “The Beast.” Presumably no charges.
  • Slidell, La.: Possible OD behind supermarket. EMS transported subject to hospital.
  • Williamson County, Tex.: Underage party report. Everyone apparently dispersed by the time deputies arrived, however. Lt. Kennedy admitted that he accidentally stepped on a “K-9 landmine.” End of episode.
  • Added: Here’s the clip from the Warwick pretaped segment:

Bonus coverage from previous week:

‘Live PD’ Season 3 Episode 54, April 6, 2019

Slidell, La., officer Clint McCall is sitting in the analyst chair in place of Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larson.

  • Williamson County, Tex.: Speeding motorcyclist evading police. Runs into back of vehicle and flips over. Suffers broken ankle and other minor injuries. Officers plan to arrest him after he is treated at hospital. Field test allegedly positive for cocaine possession. Lt. Kennedy says subject is facing serious felonies.
  • Warwick, R.I.: report of man screaming. Cops interact with couple on the street. No further update.
  • Salinas, Cal.: Traffic stop. Male and female both have suspended licenses. Man arrested for parole violation. Car impounded; female party who was released not happy about the tow.
  • Warwick, R.I.: Officer spotted open car trunk in sparking lot. Car was otherwise locked although it contained unusual items, plus the Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook. Officer shut trunk and assumed that owner accidentally activated key fob when exiting. Abrams: “Creepy ain’t a crime; neither is D and D.”
  • Slidell, La.: Traffic stop; headlight out. Significant damage to car’s front end. Driver said she previously hit a deer. Released with warning.
  • Warwick, R.I.: Officers responded to a report of juveniles in closed industrial area. No update.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol: Disabled vehicle. Officer noticed an open container. Teen driver allegedly admitted to consuming three beers. Field sobriety test administered. Driver arrested.
  • Nye County, NV (pretaped segment): Cops respond to a possible home burglary. Many possessions stolen, allegedly including weed, plus vandalism, left homeowner distraught. Suspect at large. Abrams: “A guy made a dash with his roommate’s stash as well as a lot of his cash.”
  • Warwick, R.I.: Cops responded to a report of a drunk woman who kept falling out of her bed. Fire rescue called to the scene.
  • Salinas, Cal.: Traffic stop. Driver had no license, insurance, or registration. One of the occupants had a warrant.
  • Warwick, R.I. (pretaped segment): Cops responded to Gary, a “frequent flyer.” Transported to hospital. Morris, Jr.: “Mayberry had Otis and Warwick has Gary.”
  • Williamson County Tex (pretaped segment): Suspicious vehicle stop near stop. K-9 alert. Driver arrested for possession of controlled substance. Abrams: “A guy found himself in trouble and not even the old ‘blame the girlfriend’ excuse seemed to help.”
  • Greene County, Mo.: Traffic stop. Plates not matching, car unregistered, no insurance, driver’s license suspended. Needles found in vehicle.
  • Warwick, R.I. : Traffic stop for speeding. Passenger arrested on outstanding warrant for child support.
  • Richland County, S.C.: Lost dog dispute a.k.a. puppy problem; police escort. Dog returned to owner.
  • Richland County, S.C.: Traffic stop by Deputy Garo Brown. Illegal U turn. Suspended license. Driver released with warning and friend picks up car. Next weekend, Live PD will become the gun show without having anything to do with firearms. That’s because Richland Deputy and bodybuilder Brown will substitute for Sticks Larkin on Friday/Saturday night. Abrams: “Programming note: That man, Deputy Garo Brown, will be here in studio next weekend. Everyone [is] a little bit nervous because that’s a big man, a very big man. We’re looking forward to having him here…”
  • Slidell, La.: Traffic stop; failure to yield to ambulance. Initially slow to stop for officer. Hit mailbox while driving down street. Update: Driver escorted home; she apparently has medical condition. Investigation into property damaging ongoing.
  • Green County, Mo.: Traffic stop. Motorcycle. No plates, no license, no insurance. Also no update.
  • Oklahoma Highway Patrol: Traffic stop; erratic driving, brake light out. Youngster riding in back of pickup.
  • Wanted segment: Milwaukee, Wisc:
  • Salinas, Cal.: Traffic stop for speeding. Officers found “medically packaged marijuana.” They gave driver tutorial on Calif. law.
  • Slidell, La. (pretaped segment): Male party arrested for allege domestic battery. Abrams: “As the saying goes, no use crying over spilled milk–but what abut spilled bong water? Now that’s a different story altogether.”
  • Franklin County, OH: Traffic stop for speeding. Driver suggests that she is in a hurry go to the bathroom.
  • Williamson County, Tex: Possibly intoxicated woman (who is wearing Red Sox gear) at hotel.
  • Greene County, Mo.: Car ran out of gas. Cops pushed car into nearby driveway for safety. Abrams: “They won’t need to go to the gym tomorrow; it’s a good little workout.”
  • Salinas, Cal.: Officers responded to fight in progress. One man detained; had facial injuries.
  • Missing segment: Murfreesboro, Tenn.:
  • Okla Highway Patrol: Traffic stop and search. Field test positive for cocaine.
  • Williamson County, Tex.: Traffic stop. Driver supposedly has numerous past traffic infractions. Lt. Kennedy to driver during course of conversation: “That’s kind of not normal, but all right.” Passenger just got tattoo.
  • Greene County, Mo.: Officers responded to possible residential burglary in progress. Everything appeared to be okay at residence, however.
  • Richland County, S.C.: Report of shots fired. One subject in possession of gun detained. Arrested for unlawful carrying.
  • Franklin County, Ohio: Traffic stop for failure to signal. Driver had warrant. Needle and crack pipe apparently found.
  • Slidell, La.: Officers responded to fight in progress in parking lot. Brief foot pursuit of one subject. Other subjects fled.
  • Oklahoma High Patrol: Traffic stop; headlight out. Trooper indicate it would just result in a warning if everything else checked out okay.
  • Greene County, Mo: Female office respond to scene to search woman arrested for on warrant. Contraband allegedly found. End of show.