Nathan Cain wrote:
"And most people who are in prison are in for mundane things
like selling dope or stealing. It's generally economically
motivated crime. Hard to call them crazy. For every serial
killer there are probably 500 murderers who killed for
entirely mundane reasons. The horrible truth about most crime
is that it's boring."
Back in another lifetime, I spent a summer clerking for the
Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. It gave new
meaning to the phrase "the banality of evil." I absolutely
agree with Nathan's assessment here. Had a cop talk to me
once (very nonchalantly) about a stop and drop he did on a
guy riding his bicycle along a city street.
Turned out he was holding with intent to deal. I asked him
how he knew. At first the cop tried to make it sound like it
was just great cop instincts. "I knew him from around, and I
knew he was guilty of something."
When I asked about probable cause (I was such an idealist
during my one year in law school), the cop said, "He was
sitting funny."
Turned out the guy had his meth rolled up in a baggy and
stuffed up his ass.
If any of you decide to use that in one of your books, I want
an acknowledgement.
Brian
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