Penny Dean and Your Rights

Investigators in the case of Sunday’s stabbing believe a reactivated gun could have been used to fire a bullet during the early morning melee.

According to Det Insp David Bowen, of London’s anti-gang unit Trident, the 22-year-old victim was injured when a fight broke out between 500-1,000 party-goers at Praba Banqueting Suite in Ilford High Road at around 4.30am.

Det Insp Bowen, speaking exclusively to the Recorder, confirmed there had been between 500 to 1,000 people at the 21st birthday celebration before the victim was found seriously injured in a car outside.

And the detective revealed one lead the Met were investigating was the possible use of a reactivated firearm during the incident – the source of initial incorrect reports that a man had been shot.

A Florida couple's Carnival cruise vacation was almost ruined last weekend as they attempted to board the ship because one of them was carrying a 2-inch house key shaped like a gun.

Henry Echevarria, a deputy sheriff in Pasco County, Fla., was boarding a cruise ship in Port Canaveral with his wife Lisa Jan. 15 when a ship security agent halted them at the entrance. 

"He pulls out my key and says 'Oh, here's the problem," Echevarria told WTSP.

As a law enforcement official, Echevarria says he understands routine security procedures but was shocked that such a small item would cause an issue. The deputy sheriff says he tried to explain that there was no way the key could be used as a weapon.

“They thought they had the biggest bust in Harris County. This was the bust of the year for them,” Ross Lebeau said.

It was a traffic stop in early December that led to the discovery of almost half a pound of methamphetamine — or so says the news release the Harris County Sheriff’s Office sent out, KTRK reported.

A photo of the find and a mug shot of the alleged dealer, Ross Lebeau, was included, which led to news coverage that spread quickly

“People have been calling me a kingpin or drug lord,” Lebeau said. “I was freaking out.”

Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill today that will require a criminal conviction before law enforcement can permanently confiscate property for many civil forfeiture cases. Only 11 other states have similar or stricter requirements.

Corey Statham had $46 in his pockets when he was arrested in Ramsey County, Minn., and charged with disorderly conduct. He was released two days later, and the charges were dismissed.

But the county kept $25 of Mr. Statham’s money as a “booking fee.” It returned the remaining $21 on a debit card subject to an array of fees. In the end, it cost Mr. Statham $7.25 to withdraw what was left of his money.

A ruling from the 6th Circuit Court serves as a warning to dog owners: Teach your dog to sit still and be quiet or risk police justifiably shooting the dog.

Mark and Cheryl Brown petitioned the court to hold the city and police officers from Battle Creek, Mich., accountable for shooting and killing their dogs while executing a search warrant of their home looking for evidence of drugs. The plaintiffs said the police officers' actions amounted to the unlawful seizure of property in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

A police officer has been found guilty of assault and deprivation of liberty after pulling a gun on a couple for speeding along an outback Queensland highway.

A video recording that was tendered to court showed Senior Constable Stephen Flanagan swearing and honking as he tried to pull the couple over on the Landsborough Highway on the outskirts of Longreach in May last year.

As soon as the driver pulled off the road, the police officer — who has more than 25 years' experience — got out of his vehicle, pointing his gun and continuing to swear.

Smartphones have taken over our lives faster than the law is able to deal with. For a few years now, it’s been kind of an open legal question whether or not law enforcement can force you to provide them with the password or PIN you use to unlock your phone. A few previous courts have ruled no, that having to provide your passcode is tantamount to self-incriminating testimony. But recently, an appeals court in Florida has found the other way.

“Former NSA Director Michael Hayden says that changes to the 2nd Amendment may be more effective from a counterterrorism standpoint, than more intrusive surveillance,” The Wall Street Journal noted in its description of a video interview with Assistant Managing Editor and Executive Business Editor John Bussey at its Future of Cybersecurity breakfast in New York.

Hayden is more than a “former NSA Director.” He’s a retired four-star Air Force general and has also been Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, serving in various capacities in Democrat and Republican administrations. That means he’s a consummate insider, and that he seamlessly transitions to highly classified positions of power between parties, exemplifying Carroll Quigley’s admission:

A bill meant to help those with developmental disabilities would allow government agencies to locate people with tracking devices, which has some concerned the measure gives the federal government too much authority and power.