Undercover?

[1durphul]

Was that interaction with an undercover? A thread to post stories where you are wondering if that odd interaction you had was with an undercover.

So on Monday night I had what I am certain was an encounter with an undercover tag team. I have no actual proof it was an undercover, but the interaction got my spidey-sense tingling.

I was at Mayan Warrior, having been out in the deep playa, and returning to the city, I was lured in by their amazing light show. The music was actually great, and the group of friends I was with (of which I was the only actual sober person) wanted to dance. So we danced on the edge of the crowd. About 40 feet away two uniformed BLM were searching the bags of two hapless burners.

At one point I was admiring how amazing the lights looked stretching off into the distance, when a man and woman, dressed like seasoned burners, suddenly approached me out of the blue. Both of them had unlit cigarettes hanging from their mouth. The tall guy started to chat me up, asked my name, all while the woman he was with actively observed me, never once looking at him. Thinking they just wanted a light, I said "Sorry, I don't have a light." and that's when things got weird. He started apologizing to me, and then he insisted on a hug. It was then I realized everything he was doing was an attempt to gain probable cause, and that her and him were undercover police. When they were asking for the light, it was so they could look in my bag in order to claim they saw something. When he came in for the hug it was a sniff test for marijuana. The sniff test failed (because I don't carry drugs on me ever), and then the two of them wandered off into the crowd, with him continuing to apologize, and even saying "I don't know why I'm apologizing" as they scuttled away. They didn't ask anybody else nearby for a light, I think they knew I suspected something and feared I'd blow their cover, and so they moved away from me into the large crowd around Mayan Warrior before I could. They certainly weren't interested in getting their cigarette lit any more.

My suspicion was that they would obtain the probable cause, and then inform the two uniformed BLM officers who would conduct the search while the undercovers melted back into the crowd to find the next target.

[lucky420]

thanks for posting this.

[misfit]

are BLM undercovers allowed to touch or hug participants.?. or are they only allowed verbal interactions.

[Savannah]

Undercover, or high as balls?

The world may never know.

[1durphul]

are BLM undercovers allowed to touch or hug participants.?. or are they only allowed verbal interactions.

In the U.S. undercover officers are pretty much allowed to do anything.

[Jackass]

That's pretty much how it works, they point you out to the uniforms who try to move you out of the crowd as quietly as possible. They'll take you out to their vehicle where they can give you and your possessions a serious looking over without attracting very much attention, while the others continue to work the crowd. They definitely have a thing for the mobile dance crowd... They also like to pose as couples, just a regular guy and girl.

[Jackass]

are BLM undercovers allowed to touch or hug participants.?. or are they only allowed verbal interactions.

They'll rub your nuts if they think they're on to something...

[Savannah]

That's pretty much how it works, they point you out to the uniforms who try to move you out of the crowd as quietly as possible. They'll take you out to their vehicle where they can give you and your possessions a serious looking over without attracting very much attention, while the others continue to work the crowd. They definitely have a thing for the mobile dance crowd... They also like to pose as couples, just a regular guy and girl.

One of my favorite stories about this technique was when Junglesmacks (?) had a story several years ago about spotting a naked raver dancing on a platform, who had a way of gesturing with both arms, as if offering up a toast to some fine humans in the crowd--"You! I'm feeling YOU, man! Dance, mother@#$%er!"

Apparently on 2-3 occasions, the person(s) Naked Dancer had gestured at were detained immediately after. If true, it was a hell of a creative way to pair undercover with uniformed officers.

[vargaso]

Undercover, or high as balls?

The world may never know.

That's my feeling as well. I'm leaning towards the latter.

[maladroit]

Don't carry illegal drugs and then you get to act like nobody is an undercover cop! It's a wonderful world full of hugs and inviting strangers into your camp and making new friends.

If you have illegal drugs then definitely act like everyone is an undercover cop, don't talk to any strangers. Your drugs are your friends now. Even though you'll probably never meet an undercover cop.

[1durphul]

Don't carry illegal drugs and then you get to act like nobody is an undercover cop! It's a wonderful world full of hugs and inviting strangers into your camp and making new friends.

If you have illegal drugs then definitely act like everyone is an undercover cop, don't talk to any strangers. Your drugs are your friends now. Even though you'll probably never meet an undercover cop.

Actually, I didn't carry any illegal drugs, and I had an inauthentic and awkward interaction with an undercover.

And, if after this year's worth of police brutality videos, you really think you're protected by not having anything illegal on you, you're a fool.

[Sham]

Personally speaking....

The BLM had some pretty "civilian" looking people with them this year. Some were first timers and were told NOT to leave the police vehicles unless there was a sting operation going on. I know the BLM works EXTREMELY hard to make bust---to justify their presence there. I saw almost nothing illegal out in the open, so trickery is the only real way to make their numbers.

[FlyingMonkey]

are BLM undercovers allowed to touch or hug participants.?. or are they only allowed verbal interactions.

They'll rub your nuts if they think they're on to something...

I'll have to make a point to stash suspicious non-drug items there from now on.........Well, that actually depends on the undercover.

Since I don't do anything illegal this could be a new sport. Mess with the undercovers.


Nah, too much other fun to be had.

[ACfromSAC]

I definitely think I had an encounter with an undercover. Wednesday night/Thursday morning I was dancing toward the outer part of the crowd at Opulent Temple around 3 am when a young, attractive and very clean female burner came walking straight up to me and asked, "Hey do you want some ecstasy or molly?"

I didn't hear what she said at first because the music was so loud so I just kinda nodded and leaned in and asked, "WHAT?"

"Ecstasy or molly? It's $(however much) for (however much)."

At first I thought she was trying to share some, then when she threw out the price and so clearly said what she was selling rather than using some sort of slang, I realized what was up. I said no thanks, she gave me a hug and disappeared back out onto the playa outside of the dance area. Pretty sure she was LE.

[Ratty]

On Wednesday or Thursday my camp mate, (Abba Zabba), and I were sitting on Esplanade in front of the Sideshow. A young man rolled up and started talking about love. Then drugs and more drugs. Since we don't use drugs it was all lost on us. He wasn't 'out of it'. In fact he was coherent and well spoken. Eventually he rode off and left us wondering. Was he undercover or trying to sell us something? The whole conversation was a bit off.

[maladroit]

Actually, I didn't carry any illegal drugs, and I had an inauthentic and awkward interaction with an undercover.

And, if after this year's worth of police brutality videos, you really think you're protected by not having anything illegal on you, you're a fool.

If they want to start a riot while heavily outnumbered and no quick access to backup, they're the fools.

There are different demographics of cops within the population of cops, and the type of cop who ends up beating an unarmed person is not in the group that gets sent to patrol the playa and give out slap-on-the-wrist $500 fines for small amounts of Schedule I drugs.

[mudpuppy000]

Back in 2009 (first burn) I remember a couple of guys standing in the middle of an intersection waving their hands frantically. I think they may have even stepped in front of me to get me to stop. When I stopped they asked me if I had any drugs. I just laughed and rode away.

[vargaso]

Don't carry illegal drugs and then you get to act like nobody is an undercover cop! It's a wonderful world full of hugs and inviting strangers into your camp and making new friends.

If you have illegal drugs then definitely act like everyone is an undercover cop, don't talk to any strangers. Your drugs are your friends now. Even though you'll probably never meet an undercover cop.

Always been my policy. Have a friend carry your drugs.

[BBadger]

Innocence doesn't protect you from having to waste your time proving it.

[maladroit]

Back in 2009 (first burn) I remember a couple of guys standing in the middle of an intersection waving their hands frantically. I think they may have even stepped in front of me to get me to stop. When I stopped they asked me if I had any drugs. I just laughed and rode away.

Best answer. You can't even say no, because if you did have drugs, said no, and they found drugs even through an illegal search...you could still get sent up for lying to an officer even if the drug charge itself was tossed out due to illegal search. More likely you'd get both charges since probable cause is an incredibly low bar to clear. So the correct answer regarding drugs is to just give a quizzical look, like you don't even understand, and move away.

There are other things that can happen. For example, let's say a cop asks if you have drugs, and you say "Yes" not wanting to be caught in a lie, and then go on to explain that it's a prescription bottle you found and you're taking it to Lost And Found right now. All the cop has to do is charge you with possessing prescription drugs that aren't yours, and they can sit there in front of a judge and the lawyer will ask what happened. Cop can say "I asked the suspect if they had drugs. They admitted to having this prescription bottle." and nothing more. They don't have to say anything that would help your case, and they don't even have to repeat the rest of what you told them, if they even remember. And in many cases they only have to convince a judge, you're not going to make it to a trial.

[Sham]

Just a quick moderator reminder to keep this conversation to undercover police, and not wander into drugs (legal prescription, over-the-counter or otherwise) specifically. When you see some of the techniques used on the playa to justify the LE presence, it's important to remember that these boards are closely watched.

[Traveller in Time]

Glad you are watching over us

[maladroit]

I don't use or bring drugs and if I found any out on the playa, well, sorry...I'm not picking up that MOOP.

I'm not passing judgement, I just can't afford the possible consequences.

Undercover police discussion is all about drugs though, Sham, if you include alcohol.

[Captain Goddammit]

I don't use or bring drugs and if I found any out on the playa, well, sorry...I'm not picking up that MOOP.

I'm not passing judgement, I just can't afford the possible consequences.

This here, for the win.

[The Rod]

Fun fact: talking about drugs is not against the law.


Fun fact: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

[lucky420]

[Captain Goddammit]

A-Rock LeFrench, Esquire.
Has a bit of a ring...

[ygmir]

did anyone see this character at gate or outside the fence?

14369882_10154568947169936_6139862436003341691_n.jpg

[1durphul]

Innocence doesn't protect you from having to waste your time proving it.

Well said! And I would add money, LOTS of it, potentially tens of thousands of dollars of it, maybe even more, on lawyers and lost wages.