Crime

Have Minnesota Cops Been Drugging Occupy Minneapolis? There’s Some Interesting Video

Have Minnesota Cops Been Drugging Occupy Minneapolis? Video Shows Cops Picking Up Youth for the Drug Recognition Evaluator Program

(Photo: Fibonacci Blue licensed under Creative Commons)

Over the last few weeks, allegations have surfaced that members of the Minnesota police force have been giving cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs to young protesters, before returning them to Peavey Plaza– Minnesota’s version of Zucotti Park.

Seemingly part of a longstanding government program that teaches police officers to recognize the various effects of drugs and alcohol, the program’s website states that police perform 12 “evaluations” on drug-impaired subjects before finishing their training.

The catch?  Rather than work with non-profit organizations who are already treating the addicted, which is customary, the police may have been picking up activists and giving them drugs, before soliciting some information about the movement and returning them, under the influence, near the Occupy camp.

“They gave me a full bag of weed and they gave me a pipe to smoke it out of,” one Occupier said at a hearing earlier this month.

Have Minnesota Cops Been Drugging Occupy Minneapolis? Video Shows Cops Picking Up Youth for the Drug Recognition Evaluator Program

(Photo: Minnesota Department of Public Safety)

The Occupy Minnesota site explains: “Local independent media activists and members of Communities United Against Police Brutality began investigating police conduct around the Plaza after witnessing police dropping off impaired people at the plaza and hearing rumors that they were offering people drugs.  We videotaped police conduct and interviewed participants, learning some very disturbing information about the DRE program.”

While it should be noted that Communities United Against Police Brutality and, to a similar extent, the Occupy Movement may have a motive in undermining the police, their videos are certainly intriguing.

In one, which is a full 35 minutes, people can be seen coming and going from police cars seemingly of their own free will, talking about how “they’re doing tests” in which the officers are giving out free drugs, and you, too, can participate as long as you’re 18.

Here’s the video (skip to around 55 seconds in, if you want to get straight to the gist):

The police originally maintained that it was all part of a long-established program, and they just tend to look for volunteers in that area because it is known as a “hang out” for drug users– it had nothing to do with the Occupy movement.

But now, CBS Minnesota is reporting that the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has actually launched a criminal investigation into the matter, suspending the program and even putting an officer on paid leave while it investigates any unethical activity.

“Training law enforcement officers to detect drug impairment helps to keep our roads safe, but we need to ensure that all participants follow guidelines and operate within the law,” DPS commisioner Mona Dohman said.

Dan Feidt, who filmed much of the incriminating video, maintains: “It’s very unethical for police to encourage people to take drugs with any kind of reward, whether that’s cash, food, cigarettes, or whatever — that’s still the equivalent of giving them drugs anyway…It trains officers to treat people like objects, I think it’s unacceptable, I think it’s inhumane, clearly when people were put through this program as training subjects, they weren’t given information about treatment even though they might want that.”

Even Russia Today took an interest in the story, interviewing Feidt and showing some of his clips:

Occupy Minnesota explains the risks, specifically to the Occupy movement, of the alleged police behavior:

It would appear now that they are no longer relying solely on [working with nonprofit organizations who are already helping drug users], instead recruiting users directly and, participants say, providing them with drugs. After the sessions, these individuals are then dropped off in public areas without supportive care, creating a public safety hazard. In an example at Peavey Plaza caught on film, an individual who said he’s been smoking courtesy of the police for an hour, crossed a line of Minneapolis police barricades, climbed to the top of a large sign and sat 15 feet above the sidewalk swinging his arms and legs in front of a police camera.

One Twin Cities columnist, Ruben Rosario, commented:

Now, the first thing that popped into my head after watching the folks on this 36-minute video was that classic “this is your brain on drugs” 1980s TV spot with the image of an egg sizzling in a frypan.

My second thought was, “If true, where was this taxpayer-funded smoking-pot cops program when I was young and foolish?”

Comments (81)

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  • vic138
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:54pm

    Have they thought about the liability of this program? What if someone walks in front of a car or trips over something and gets injured? This is so wrong.

    Report Post » vic138  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:18pm

      Sounds to me like to police just distributed illegal narcotics….WHERE’S THE DA?

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 7:34pm

      Police:; Do you want the Red Pill or the Blue Pill? The Red Pill will turn you into a Republican and the Blue Pill will turn you into a Democrat.

      OWS’r: He11, I’ll take both….

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 9:02pm

      DrugUsing Students & Protesters… supplied by the Police? Are you BrainDead?

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • EndTheFedNOW
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:32pm

      Cops dealing drugs? Nothing new. You think our troops are in afghanstain to kill al CIAed I mean Al Qadea? No its to take control of the poppy plant that makes HEROIN. Our government deals the drugs. Been that way for a long time.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj-b3pB6M7s

      Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
    • loriann12
      Posted on May 16, 2012 at 6:57am

      It’s all part of the everyone is equal thing. They take drugs away from the big time dealers/distributors and give it to the guy on the street who really needs it because he can’t afford it. We can’t have drug dealers making massive amounts of money and making it into the top 1%, now can we? It’s just another form of redistribution of wealth. My question is, seriously, where does the police department get a bag full of weed and a pipe except from raiding someone else? did they go buy it?

      Report Post »  
  • Whirling Dervish
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:45pm

    Old Old news,

    Alex Jones already covered it 10 days ago.

    Report Post » Whirling Dervish  
    • chazmo
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:36pm

      Yes he did.. and I thought he was just being dopey.. Man maybe Alex does have it right.. WTF?

      Report Post » chazmo  
    • ShawnB
      Posted on May 16, 2012 at 1:41am

      yeah Alex has been right more often than Beck especially when it comes to Monsanto and GMO foods and how that is killing us. I see the numbers sky rocketing from cancer.

      Report Post »  
  • Rhiboat
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:41pm

    great

    Report Post » Rhiboat  
  • Sig Sauer Guy
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:40pm

    LOL… Who isn’t surprised that cops are doing this? Not much difference between occupiers and cops if you ask me.

    Report Post » Sig Sauer Guy  
    • Wolf
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:39pm

      Ummm.. can I say, ‘DUH’? But then, it’s MN. Shame on us- we elected Soros’ buddy Dayton.

      Report Post »  
    • Wolf
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:45pm

      Name one difference.

      Report Post »  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:20pm

    yah– I really believe the occupiers are going to rat out a free drugs program!

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:34pm

      this is very wrong. can you imagine a cop giving your 18 year olds drugs to study them? If this story breaks , the entire department should be removed. These cops should know better

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:02pm

      @ishka4me
      The difference between an occupier and MY 18 year old, is that my 18 year old wouldn’t accept the drugs given to her by anyone, even police. She may be young, but she is not stupid.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:31pm

      Ahh social experimentation I say give them all they want until they O.D.

      Report Post »  
  • heyjim55
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:14pm

    I am amazed on how many here thinks the police have done nothing wrong here. There is more than enough information and videos for police to be trained on the affects of drugs. I personally think there is something else behind this, but most of you here do not and that is probably because you dislike OWS so much that anything to discredit them is fine with you, I don’t like them either I think they are being manipulated and toyed with by their backers and their adversaries, this thing with the police doing this is suspicious.

    Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:00pm

      Free Drugs
      Free Cheese
      Free Foodstamps
      Free Welfare

      Coming Pretty Soon Via Obamacare
      Free Death Panels
      Free Euthanasia
      Free Birth Control

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • TheBurningTruth
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:13pm

    While I generally do NOT condone police entrapment methods or ways to hide the law from someone just to catch them violating the secret law…

    These OWS jerkoffs use drugs on their own. They want everything free, and they want it now. Nobody was tied down with drugs injected in their veins or trapped in a dope smoked filled room, they all VOLUNTARILY took the substances. The fact that they’re happily sucking up the booze, drugs and smokes proves that.

    The most anyone could do with me is OFFER, but I’d never take it. Unlike President Marxist that boozed and drugged his way through high school on his way to serial Ivy League schools with amazing sealed transcripts I have standards and can say no.

    If one follows this OWS garbage to the logical conclusion, they will protest drugs being illegal, then they’ll protest that drugs cost money wanting them to be FREE like everything else they want. So, as far as I’m concerned, all the police did was jump to their end goal. Too bad the OWS crowd is too stupid to see the connection.

    Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
    • Cuthalu
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 6:18pm

      And yet none that justify’s police handing out illegal drugs to people like they did. They do not have the authority to conduct “experiments” on citizens, regardless if people like you dislike those particular citizens.

      Report Post »  
    • ChevalierdeJohnstone
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 7:02pm

      I agree. And I have no patience for LEO misconduct. But this clearly is legal and clearly is in no way entrapment. It is the easiest thing in the world to say, “No thank you, I don’t want drugs.” These OWS goons demonstrate clear willingness to break the law and the officers clearly only offer them the opportunity to break it. That is the legal definition of “Not Entrapment”.

      What bugs me is…why don’t they arrest these goons as soon as they take the drugs? That’s a clear violation of the law. The cops should be arresting them and getting them off the street! As another commented, what if the druggies walk in front of traffic and cause an accident? THAT is police misconduct and irresponsibility.

      Our entire society is full of idiots. On all sides.

      Report Post »  
  • toomuchgovt
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:59pm

    Is there any wonder why Obama is their pres.? Oh my goodness what idiots.

    Report Post » toomuchgovt  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:14pm

      Let me see if I understand this…the already drug addled are claiming they were drugged?

      Report Post »  
    • stumpy68
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:39pm

      No the media is claiming they were drugged they are most likely claiming they met
      the coolest cops ever

      Report Post » stumpy68  
  • reaper42
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:59pm

    Must be Ron Paul supporters! Occupythere bodies? Good idea! Invation of the body snachers, turn them into weeds, then pull them up by the roots, end of problum!

    Report Post »  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:04pm

      @REAPER42

      Are you suggesting that because RP wants to loosen drug laws that all his supporters are drug users?

      I would argue the opposite.

      I would say Paul supporters see no basis for the drug war in the constitution and that it is a persons individual right to do to their body as they see fit.

      To imply otherwise shows no knowledge of Libertarianism.

      Help me with this one RP”ers. I don’t support him, but I call BS when I see it.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:08pm

      you must be an Obama supporter.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
    • Fella
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:48pm

      Brother_Ed, It’s just what the anti-intellectual crowd does when they dont have the capacity debate a real issue or policy.

      reaper42 – Member Since: May 15, 2012

      Just another one of Time_to_End_Paul_Campaign growing list of alternate accounts. He’s been having an epic meltdown for about 6 months now.

      Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:20pm

      I knew I’d find this type of post. Tell me Reaper, when did the Federal Government criminalize drugs? Since nothing is in the Constitution regarding drugs, which were available when written, how did the government decide that it was OK for them to make the drug laws and enforce them? When you can answer that, you’ll know what you are.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • fangbanger
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:58pm

    i dont see any problem here. in fact i find it more inappropriot for police to obtain their test subjects for the centers trying to help people treat addiction. i dont see any problems with the police seeking out volunteers off the street, even from OWS participants. i think its funny that many OWS people support legalization of all drugs, and yet they have a problem with police giving away drugs. i think the real problem they have is that the drugs are coming from the police and the test subjects are teaching police how to detect those under the influence.

    BTW for full disclosure i am one of those that supports legalization, with limitations, of some drugs (marijuana, mushrooms, and lsd). I am also a libertarian and registered republican.

    Report Post » fangbanger  
  • TheShadowJr
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:55pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post » TheShadowJr  
  • TheShadowJr
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:55pm

    Can’t Occupy just say no?

    Report Post » TheShadowJr  
  • SgtB
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:52pm

    So drugs are so dangerous that we should lock up an individual for a decade for possession of such a substance… but the police are allowed to possess it and utilize it to get people high so they can “observe” them. This is a sick system and anyone involved should be struck dead by the lightning bolt of hypocrisy.

    Add this kind of behavior to the murder of Sgt Guerena and the felony charges against a law abiding Soldier because his rifle malfunctioned at a rifle range and people wonder why I’m not fond of police.

    Report Post » SgtB  
  • Bwbarrnone
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:50pm

    What’s that old saying about RAP?

    Can’t Rap the willing?

    Just thinking out loud here, Relax folks, relax

    Report Post » Bwbarrnone  
  • brother_ed
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:48pm

    You could give out all the free drugs you want to at the Restoring Love Rally this summer and I would bet that no one would accept the offer.

    However, it would be a great way to determine who the ‘infiltrators’ are.

    Just goes to show what kind of folks these are.

    Kinda gives ‘grass’ roots a whole new meaning.

    Report Post » brother_ed  
    • john gault 2
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:08pm

      You’re wrong. I’m a registered Republican, I attend Tea Party rallies, and have never voted Democrat, and guess what I’m also a pot smoker. Most people have tried it and many use it regularly so to say nobody would take it is absurd. The difference would be that even under the influence we would be peaceful and OWS would use it as an excuse to attack police and cause trouble.

      Report Post »  
    • usedCZARsalesman
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:35pm

      How wrong you are Ed…I too have gone to multiple TP rallys and am a registered R (but only because I still believe in what the R used to mean. Not what the RINOs have turned it into). I am also a DIALY pot smoker. Just like John said, the difference is I have never commited ANY violence…never stolen/vadalized…funny enough, I can be “high as a kite” and still think more than well enough to rip apart the arguments of any liberal I’ve ever come across. You have just fallen prey to the same “reefer madness” BS that my parents/family refuse to let go of. There has NEVER been a study that proves ANY neg. health effects from weed. There are, however, THOUSANDS of studies that show hundreds of POSITIVE health effects/societal uses for both THC and the hemp that comes with it.

      Report Post » usedCZARsalesman  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 16, 2012 at 12:32am

      @JOHN GAULT 2 & USEDCZARSALESMAN

      I’m very sorry to hear that.

      You may deny it and show me studies all day long, but marijuana takes away your motivation.

      If you tell me that “you are very productive now, thank-you very much!”, I will say “think of what you could accomplish if you put the bong down.”

      Sorry, but I might know what I’m talking about ;)

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • usedCZARsalesman
      Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:27am

      Seriously ED? Would you say the same thing about someone that works 10-12 hours, takes their kids to ball practice, goes home and gets the family all settled down for the night, then relaxes with a couple of beers? There is a difference between people that recreationally use ANYTHING and those that ABUSE. You have a really pathetic world view. Many of the worlds most productive, inspiring, ingenious people are daily weed smokers. The fact that you even admit that we could show you all the studies that prove you wrong and you would still think you are right shows what limited critical thinking skills you possess.

      Report Post » usedCZARsalesman  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 16, 2012 at 12:14pm

      @BROTHER_ED

      Yes, I would.

      As a Latter Day Saint, I am opposed to alcohol and illegal drugs. I would add abuse of prescription drugs as well.

      Notice I did not say they should be outlawed. You have a right to choose what you want to do with your body.

      The more you come to realize the beauty of the gift of a body that Heavenly Father has given you, the more you want to take care of that body.

      Anything you take into your system that is not food, is by definition a poison. Your body either uses the material you ingest to build itself, or it has to deal with it until it is flushed from your body.

      Alcohol and drugs are not food, therefor they are poison.

      You can argue otherwise, and that’s fine. I would suggest you seek advise from a nutritionist if you really want to know.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • usedCZARsalesman
      Posted on May 16, 2012 at 5:56pm

      well ED…I happen TO BE A NUTRITIONIST, as well a professional MMA athlete. Drinking 1-2 beers/glasses of wine per day is actually AMAZINGLY healthy for you. THC is not a drug (if you bothered to do any actual research instead of just blindly following what some mortal man told you God said) it is already naturally in your body just in smaller amounts. THC allows cancer patients to eat after chemo, cures/prevents glaucoma, on and on and on. You have no idea what you are saying you are just spouting nonsense. I know YOU aren’t calling for these things to be banned, but it is the ignorance of people LIKE you that have caused the draconian drug laws we currently have. Just try doing a little research before just assuming that God (who’s son, btw, drank wine that was just as potent as it is today) condemns the use of ANYTHING. Refined sugar gets you “high”, is that wrong? Working out pushes endorphines through your system and gets you “high”, is pumping iron wrong?

      Report Post » usedCZARsalesman  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:44pm

    …
    Drugs won’t hurt these “occupy” freaks. They’ve been brain-dead for years.

    Report Post »  
  • possom
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:35pm

    Idiot’s whine because they want everything free and when they get it they whine some more.

    Report Post » possom  
  • R2
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:32pm

    They should have given them something to stop them from being able to breed. After all we do not need more like this around.

    Report Post »  
    • Cuthalu
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:39pm

      Wait, are you advocating for progressive inspired Malthusian?

      Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:30pm

    Hey kid..er, man..er, man-child..You want some candy?

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:36pm

      test or not,,,,they are all violating the law. VIOLATING. There is enough evidence ON TAPE to convict them. I hope it happens.

      Report Post »  
  • shakedowncrews
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:29pm

    “what’s that? they are giving out drugs? can I do it?” you get all these idiots volunteering to get high and then complaining about it?!
    didn’t take long for the unethical cops to find unethical lab rats for their little experiment, did it?
    Did the cops ever try this with the Tea Party? Oh, that’s right, they DIDN’T. You can expect the Occupy fools to line up for drugs.
    What‘s the price you’d want for your freedom? A bag of weed? OK, that can be arranged.

    Report Post » shakedowncrews  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:21pm

    Now is a good time for Obummer to say,”The police acted stupidly.”
    I guess it is a good idea to get these folks High on pot.Who wants to riot when you re chillin’?
    “Hey Man,Why don’t you go over to that Evil Corporation 7-11 and get us some Evil Corporation Hostess Twinkies and Evil Corporation Fritos and Doritos….Man?”
    “NO! I Want Some Evil Corporation Starbuck’s Coffee to get hyped on Caffeine then go burn some churches!”

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • TexasHunter
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:14pm

    Just like rats should be treated. Everyone else is using them for a purpose.

    Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • koyettsu
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:35pm

      This seems to be the new narrative coming form OWS, I highly doubt it but hey who knows.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:14pm

    Personally these Occupy radicals and useless idiots should have been cleaned out a long time ago.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • J.C. McGlynn
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:10pm

    Should have used rohypnol. That way they would not remember if they were drugged.

    Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Now watch for Holder and the DOJ to investigate the cops and slander them across the board; even if nothing was violated in the matter of procedure, ethics and legality then they will be destroyed by inuendo and slander.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:03pm

    Hey! I see nothing wrong with this…Occupy Their Bodies!

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
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