Informant Identified in Fatal Maple Tree/Marijuana Mix-up
Tue, May 20, 2008 11:31 pm
Source: stopthedrugwar.org
Radley Balko reports that we might now know the identity of the confidential informant who mistook Japanese maple trees for marijuana, leading to the death of a police officer and murder charges against an innocent man.
The informant had a conflict with Ryan Frederick, so he broke into his house, misidentified his plants, and told police Frederick was growing marijuana. When police raided the home, Frederick mistook them for burglars and opened fire, killing a police officer. He's now sitting jail, awaiting trial for killing a cop.
This utterly tragic and absurd situation is the natural and predictable byproduct of our mindless war on drugs, which allows incompetent idiots with ulterior motives to provide probable cause for violent police raids.
Radley has some background on the case here.







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Update 6/11/08
Jun 11 2008, 5:46 am
Update 5/28/08
May 28 2008, 7:19 am
Chesapeake Police were NOT serving a warrant under the "NO Knock " policy as the information used to obtain the warrant did NOT contain the required conditions for "No Knock" . The detective was killed in the front yard .
Keep in mind , this is the Chesapeake Police Departments version . They may be hiding what really happened , but they also might acually BELIEF this to be the facts . And the same thing goes for Fredricks .
I hope Fredricks lawyer is worth a s--t (feces)
I hope the snitch gets whats coming to him !!
jimbob
May 25 2008, 1:31 pm
Hell, those cops mostlikely thought they had the right and duty to burst in there. Dont let the pesky constitution get in the way.
Id love to have gone with some of my guys, when I was in the military, break down their doors, demand they feed quarter, and cloth my men...at gun point. Mine are bigger than yours....and thats how they think.
I firmly believe I have one, or two choices to be happy, move to northern cali, or become a hermit in some God aweful place no one would dream of coming. But then I feel like that is irresponsible, I dont want to abandon the cause and let them win by attrition.
If the man knew they were cops, he was dumb cause he didnt have anything criminal in his home. It stands to reason anyone who has nothing to hide, would ever just throw down in a gun fight with some cops. this is going to be ugly for those cops and all the people in charge of them, and it's about time.
:o)
May 25 2008, 6:16 am
King
May 25 2008, 12:29 am
?
May 24 2008, 7:34 pm
the other reason is to agree with him self
Hey Umm
May 24 2008, 7:22 pm
Reality Check
May 24 2008, 4:54 pm
A claim was made that there was no warrant . (was that you being wrong again ?) I pointed out the link to the info that made reference to the warrant . I just looked and its still there . Do you know what "contradicted" means ?
"ha , you just contradicted yourself" ? ..really ? Lets see.
"the prosecutor is the one saying he was shot in the yard yet the neighors say otherwise " ..? Thats curious .
Because the link you got your info from only says the "neighors" didn't see as many cops at the scene as was reported ... And we still see no contradiction on my part .
I only know of one person on this forum that gets it wrong ALL THE TIME ...............
Iam Yur God
May 24 2008, 3:46 pm
hah, you just contradicted yourself. 1st off the cop wasnt shot in the yard re-read that article where the link takes you.... was shot at the door guy was in his house aimed at door cause "he saw someone trying to get in through the lower door panels". The prosecutor is the one saying he was shot in the yard. and yet neighors say otherwise, and contradicting accounts from police too as to how many were there at the time it happened. anyways heres a clip from that article of some of the injustice in the so called Justice system.
(((The raid in Chesapeake bears a striking resemblance to another that ended in a fatality. Last week, New Hanover County, N.C., agreed to pay $4.25 million to the parents of college student Peyton Strickland, who was killed when a deputy participating in a raid mistook the sound of a SWAT battering ram for a gunshot, and fired through the door as Strickland came to answer it.
In the case where a citizen mistakenly (and allegedly) shot through his door at a raiding police officer, the citizen is facing a murder charge; in the case where a raiding police officer mistakenly shot through a door and killed a citizen, there were no criminal charges.)))
Double Standards.
Reality Check
May 24 2008, 3:16 pm
I realize you think you'd shoot at "anybody" coming in your house . Sure you're not wrong about that too?
Just suppose you did shoot a cop at your door , knowing it was a cop , you'd be truthful and admitt you knew when arrested ?
I don't think you put much thought into this .
sirsmokealot
May 24 2008, 11:16 am
The real crime here was commited by the police themselves. and that rat fink asshole should die.
sirsmokesalot
May 24 2008, 11:12 am
If anyone kicks my door in and barges into my castle they will get the same hospitality.
Reality Check
May 24 2008, 10:19 am
The prosecutor at the bond hearing stated the dective was shot in the yard and through the door and that Fredricks knew they were there . I don't know how they KNOW he was aware because they didn't go into that .
If the guy was shot in the yard and NOT while busting the door down ......
Thats the other side of the coin . Thats why , as some one has already stated , the investigation needs to be done by somebody not connected .
I know what I would do if awakened in the night fearing a breakin and I know what I'd do if I woke up and saw the law comming .......... I/You don't know Mr. Fredricks .
I hope he is aquitted .
Jimbob
May 24 2008, 9:50 am
If you actually read the Kilo decision, you would know that the fed gov't DOES NOT have to use what it takes from you for public works projects any more.
Now they can take your property and give/sell it to a developer, or any private entity that can prove the swap will benifit the tax base of the area of occurance.
Problem 1) Cops scream at the top of their lungs identifying themselves on a no knock. Did they follow the protocol?
if they didnt, and this dude was the kind of guy to nap with a 12Ga. then they have no one to blame but themselves.
Was this guy a normal dude, recluse, dangerous, or prior criminal record? Either way the whole thing stinks, just like the whole fucking system, from city counsels, to the congress. How can we have a healthy government when its full of fat and cancer?
We cant, so good people die, and The Machine keeps chugging.
Reality Check
May 24 2008, 9:41 am
Jimbob
May 24 2008, 9:35 am
big baby jesus
May 23 2008, 8:21 pm
Slater
May 23 2008, 8:20 pm
Reality Check
May 23 2008, 6:19 pm
What you don't understand is this , try to keep up
1)he is being charged with murder , like it or not .
2)the prosecution can provide , as evidence , a dead cop .
3)What can Mr.Fredricks provide as evidence ? He never reported the prior break in , and his word that he didn't know it was a cop ?
How do you KNOW he didn't know it was a cop ? The answer in case you're confused here , is you DON'T . Neither do I or anyone else on this forum .
Do you honestly think a cop gets killed and the'll take a suspect word that it was self defense ? If he is a murder , do you really think he would say "yea ,I knew it was a cop when I shot ?"... what planet are you on ?
"Clearly what happened " ?
"you dumbass , think before you speak " ?
How about read before you think .......
The last sentence of my post says I hope he gets aquitted . Do you know what that word means ?
Re:
May 23 2008, 3:02 pm
READ A ANOTHER BOOK
Re; to Iam yur
May 23 2008, 2:59 pm
If you get the chance , go ahead and take it . Let us know how that came out ...if you're able or if they'll let you .
READ A BOOK .
Iam Yur God
May 23 2008, 1:27 pm
Yeah its a fucked up world we live in.
Property seizure is illegal, violates the constituion. It is theft. Only way government is allowed to take your property is if it is land and only if it is going to get used for public purposes. like roads, a park, or something of that nature, but they have to compensate you for that. Imminent Domain Law.
other property however, like cars, houses, anything material can not be seized legally. Even if it was being used for So-called illegal purposes like growing weed.
I had someone I know have their car seized becuz they were found with marijuana and cocaine in the car and guess what he got a lawyer and got his shit back + money to compensate for him having to get the lawyer to get his shit back to begin with, since it was an illegal aquisition.
Iam Yur God
May 23 2008, 1:11 pm
If the cop would have shot him. would the cop be in jail? NO. Why Not? Becuase the law has double standards.
and what is the defintion of murderer? and by you implying he is a murderer you are doing the saMe shit the justice system does PRESUMING GUILT. because you have to prove he killed him with intent to kill him and not out of self defense which is clearly what happened since he was IN HIS OWN HOME. he may have killed the guy but you cant call it murder in any degree. You have the right to protect your property, FROM ANYONE. so with that said he shoudlnt be in jail he should be outside of jail waiting for a court date. CASE CLOSED.
you made me laugh
you dumb ass think before you speak
Re:
May 22 2008, 12:13 pm
Would you shoot the guy KNOWING you were shooting at the law ? You see , THATS the charge , thats the question .
What all you people WOULD do has absolutley nothing to do with this guys predicament is NOW .
Just Another Nobody
May 22 2008, 11:04 am
fuck you
May 22 2008, 9:42 am
Re:
May 22 2008, 9:29 am
"Steve" was dating the sister of Mr. Fredricks fiance .
He is also wanted for charges which include "
1)grand larceny
2)credit card fraud .( he stole and used them )
3) he was supposed to be in court last week over these charges but is on the run . There has been been a warrant issued for his arrest .
Mr. Fredricks claims of a prior burglary can not be verified . He didn't call the police .
NONE of this will matter in determining the crucial question ... Did he KNOW they were cops ?
I am from the Chesapeake area .
Reality Check
May 22 2008, 7:26 am
You kill ANYBODY , even if it was in self defense , there will be an investigation of what happened . You are not exempt from prosecution simply because you own the property .
The cops say he was shot by a man who new there were cops at the door . Cops tell the truth all the time ? ...no
The guy who did the shooting says he didn't know they were cops . Thats probably the case but it would be STUPID to just take his word for it . If he did kill the cop . knowing it was a cop at the time , he wouldn't lie about it ? Murders don't lie do they ?
We've really only heard one side of the story because the law hasn't said very much .
I personaly hope the guy is aquitted .
Mature Adult
May 22 2008, 6:43 am
Iam Yur God
May 22 2008, 3:49 am
¿Innocent until proven guilty, but you have to stay in jail till they have the court date....or until you pay your Kidnaping Ransom Fee (Bail Bond)...
WAKE UP!!!
"Tax is just another word for extortion"
"Arrest is just another word for kidnap"
"Bail is just another word for Ransom"
"Arrest the cops, judges, prosecutors, politicians, who are against Marijuana freedom tax them, and get Bail from their Family"
Slater
May 22 2008, 1:14 am
digitalnutz
May 21 2008, 6:36 pm
hell yeah
May 21 2008, 6:18 pm
YOU KNOCK ON THE FUCKING DOOR AND ANNOUNCE YOURSELF OR YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO BE FIRED UPON.
AND ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A GUN IN THEIR HOUSE FOR PROTECTION IS JUST WAITING TO BE A VICTIM.
THIS GUY WILL LIKELY END UP BEING FREE, NO JURY SHOULD CONVICT HIM FOR PROTECTING HIS OWN HOME.
Reality Check
May 21 2008, 4:44 pm
you don't become a criminal unless you have been found guilty . A life has been taken . There are two sides to the story . An investigation of the facts is an attempt to sort out what happened .
Is the guy guilty just because the cops say so ? ..No .
Is the guy innocent just because he says so ?.. No.
kinder
May 21 2008, 4:31 pm
is a cop doesn't make him any smarter any better than anybody else, but lately cops have been acting stupid when
it's only MJ.
big baby jesus
May 21 2008, 4:29 pm
Ichikok Fukujima
May 21 2008, 2:28 pm
the bear
May 21 2008, 1:45 pm
green goblin
May 21 2008, 12:41 pm
unknown
May 21 2008, 9:37 am
doe john doe
May 21 2008, 9:25 am
John Doe
May 21 2008, 8:24 am
TAMMY C
May 21 2008, 3:25 am
The Harper family are nothing but a bunch of thiefs. The P.M of Canada is entering homes with keys when the owners are working to search homes for valuables like large amounts of cash. The prime minister of Canada has the key to every lock in Canada including safes, pad locks, GARAGES, cars and all they do is undermine the victim.
david ortiz
May 21 2008, 3:14 am
such a shame
May 20 2008, 11:58 pm
think this will change anything? probably noooooooooooot.
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