Story Archive

We Owe You Nothing

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration wanted a truck to use in a sting against a drug cartel. So, according to Craig Patty, the owner of a small trucking company in Houston, Texas, it took one of his, and it didn’t ask for his permission. The DEA arranged for Lawrence Chapa, who was working for the agency as an informant and for Patty’s company as a truck driver, to haul marijuana, but Chapa was ambushed by cartel soldiers. He was killed, and the truck — one of only two the company had — was left bullet-ridden, spattered in blood, and out of service for almost three months. And Patty said he was afraid the cartel would think he was working with the DEA. Patty tried suing the federal government, but a federal judge didn’t let the case reach trial. “It is not just that you can’t sue the federal government,” said one of Patty’s lawyers, “but that fed law enforcement agencies under this ruling can use anybody’s property to do anything they want to further their law enforcement mission and not have to go get the permission from the owner of the property to do it.” (AC/Houston Chronicle) ...Maybe we should stop paying for police cars, and just have the cops take any car they want instead.