Hey, That's Entrapment!: Kopbusters.com Honey Pot Sting

[HankB]

If Cooper & company called in a tip and reported marijuana being grown, then it would appear to be "filing a false police report" which is an offense.

It would NOT excuse the cops for raiding a home based on an anonymous tip.

Now, if Cooper & company called in and anonymously reported "grow lights and plants" being set up, without reporting an actual crime . . . they have a defense.

I don't see this as any worse than cops selling weed and then busting the people they sold it to . . . yet they aren't arrested for selling the dope. Generally speaking, "commit a crime to catch a criminal" just doesn't fly in my book.

[Firethorn]

Generally speaking, "commit a crime to catch a criminal" just doesn't fly in my book.

No idea if you'll agree with me, but generally speaking, any laws an officer breaks in order to 'catch' a criminal should be lower than what he arrests for.

IE buying dope is illegal - but possession is lower on the offense list than dealing.  So buying drugs in order to catch dealers is sorta-ok.  Selling drugs, on the other hand, is a role reversal and not kosher.

To take it out of the drug field(because I support legalization) - speeding to catch a fleeing bank robber is lower on the scale than the crimes the bank robber committed.