NOW HERE’S SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN EVERYDAY
Have you ever had a moment in your life that was so surreal that you couldn’t believe it was happening? I did today. I learned the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was going to come to my downtown Indianapolis apartment with a search warrant and try to confiscate my computer.
I was surprised too. They reportedly wanted to know what my “connection” is with Indy Undercover. I think it’s something else which I’ll get to in a moment. Luckily, common sense has prevailed for now and someone decided catching real criminals would be a more important use of the taxpayers’ money.
I freely admit to reading Indy Undercover (the police blog) and I know some of the guys who do it. I’ll even admit it was my idea over lunch one day. I got tired of hearing them complain and told them to start a blog like everyone else in this town. It’s better for people to have a forum where they can complain than me having to listen to it. They’ve sent me items and I’ve returned the favor a time or two. That’s what I do as your friendly neighborhood arms dealer. I read the news but not the comment section because I don’t trust it.
I know the top brass hates Indy Undercover and some of them can’t stand me personally because of my criticism, but I never thought people would go this far. What I honestly think this is about is that for the past week I have been working on a story involving alleged child sexual abuse by a very prominent and wealthy local Democrat. I won’t mention the name but the Department of Child Services confirmed there is an open investigation and IMPD is looking into it also.
I like to think that no elected or appointed official would ever abuse their power, but I’ve been around long enough that I would not be surprised if the true purpose of the warrant would be to squelsh the publication of that story by confiscating my home computer.
I hope I’m wrong. But it also makes me wonder some other things. Have local law enforcement officials been monitoring my Internet usage, phone calls and engaging in other surveillance? And if it would be done to a very public and vocal person like me, what about your average citizen who doesn’t have a radio show, blog, newspaper column or television access?
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big supporter of law enforcement. And if not for an unexpected venture into talk radio a few years ago, I would have probably been a county prosecutor back home.
I know there are bitter feelings about the last election and my role in it as a voice and forum for the voters, but it’s really sad if things have come to this.
For the first time in my life, I really do hope I’m wrong.
