WAPO editorial | 'Uh-Oh They're Here': Persistent blogger annoys police, and winds up in jail.

'Uh-Oh They're Here'
A persistent blogger annoys police -- and winds up in jail.

A 34-YEAR-OLD woman, the mother of a 12-year-old girl, has been locked up in a Virginia jail for three weeks and could remain there for at least another month. Her crime? Blogging about the police.

Elisha Strom, who appears unable to make the $750 bail, was arrested outside Charlottesville on July 16 when police raided her house, confiscating notebooks, computers and camera equipment. Although the Charlottesville police chief, Timothy J. Longo Sr., had previously written to Ms. Strom warning her that her blog posts were interfering with the work of a local drug enforcement task force, she was not charged with obstruction of justice or any similar offense. Rather, she was indicted on a single count of identifying a police officer with intent to harass, a felony under state law.

It's fair to say that Ms. Strom was unusually focused on the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement task force, a 14-year-old unit drawn mainly from the police departments of Charlottesville, Albemarle County and the University of Virginia. (Her blog at http://iheartejade.blogspot.com, expresses the view that the task force is "nothing more than a group of arrogant thugs.") In a nearly year-long barrage of blog posts, she published snapshots she took in public of many or most of the task force's officers; detailed their comings and goings by following them in her car; mused about their habits and looks; hinted that she may have had a personal relationship with one of them; and, in one instance, reported that she had tipped off a local newspaper about their movements.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/09/AR2009080902126.html?referrer=digg">Read more
Predictably, this annoyed law enforcement officials, who, it's fair to guess, comprised much of her readership before her arrest. But what seems to have sent them over the edge -- and skewed their judgment -- is Ms. Strom's decision to post the name and address of one of the officers with a street-view photo of his house.

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Ms. Strom is not the most sympathetic symbol of free-speech rights. She has previously advocated creating a separate, all-white nation, and her blog veers from the whimsical to the self-righteous to the bizarre. But the real problem here is the Virginia statute, in which an overly broad, ill-defined ban on harassment-by-identification, specifically in regard to police officers, seems to criminalize just about anything that might irritate targets.

grind, it almost got me killed as i had no idea i was blown on a buy, this is a law i totally agree with as its intent is to protect officers from people intentionally trying to give their personal info and id's to the criminal fraternity.

Not in its intent but in its wording. It's overly vague and the whole thing comes down to the motivation of the accused. And it looks like she has a pretty good case because a similar law in Washington State was thrown out on constitutional grounds (Sheehan v. Gregoire). Clearly this woman is entirely unsympathetic. She's unemployed, has a 12 year old daughter, possibly borderline mental illness (at least in her obsession about the cops) and is a white supremacist. Whether or not her motivation was to harass the cops is unclear. She says not, but who knows if she's telling the truth? And that's the crux of the problem with the Virgina law. It rests on something that's ultimately unprovable.

There's more about this case here: http://carlosmiller.com/2009/07/31/va-woman-arrested-for-blogging-about-cops-has-white-supremacist-past

On edit: I'm not saying there shouldn't be laws to protect police officers who work undercover. Far from it. I'm just saying that as worded, the Virginia law could be clearer.

she posted pictures of the guys then the home address of one of them, this is why there are laws to protect cops, i agree the laws could be worded clearer, but a lot of times these laws are intentionally vague and open to interpretation to allow the courts leeway inorder to protect the officers..

What were you trying to buy, if I may ask?

but the fuckturd who thought it was cool to post pics didnt.. hes downstate now..

You got big ones my friend.

so its a different world for me now, its more dangerous on DU for me for being a popo than it ever was on the street :)

Never been a big fan of the police, but the way I see it, you guys got your job, and I got mine. And you know what I mean.

The drug war is designed to help Big Pharm, Big Tobacco, and Big Alcohol maintain their economic markets first and foremost. It is also designed to fill the private prisons run by GOP contributors. It is also designed to disenfranchise large segments of traditionally Democratic voters, such as blacks and Hispanics, to help the GOP win elections.

You're carrying water for the GOP and sleazy businesses, not saving anyone from drug use.

i deal with the fallout every day both at woek and in my community, go spew your crap at someone who cares. I am sure you would quite happily let the meth dealers overun your community with guns and meth..

Meth is a drug. I don't care who uses it, as long as they're an adult, and they're not operating heavy equipment, driving, or caring for minors. If they do those things, we have laws that deal with such things as crimes.

I do not believe in laws that make drug use or possession illegal. I think those laws are merely excuses for the police to brow beat and arrest people whose crime is not being the way the more tight assed in society would have them be.

Why don't you worry about the rampant alcoholism among the police? Why don't you arrest your fellow officers every time they drive intoxicated? Or arrest all those cops on steroids? Or arrest the ones who slap their wife and kids around? Or report those who abuse prisoners?

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That's a dangerous trait in a man who carries a badge, and the main reason our nation is being abused by cops everywhere.

Unlike you, I understand the constitution. I understand that our country is built around liberty, not the suppression of liberty. Your precious drug war never existed until well into the 20th century. This country spent its first 150 years free of drug laws, and yet, it survived.

Unlike you, I understand the law and the history of this nation.

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If you wonder why so many do not trust the police, look at your own posts in this thread. You have no problem attacking and insulting those who disagree with you.

I truly hate to imagine you on the side of the road, abusing some citizen who dares to argue their point of view.

Try to accept that this is not some little town in West Virginia, and we are not on the side of the road, where the policeman is God and everyone else is his punching bag.

the only thing you have not thrown out there is the phrase pigs, they deserved it. frankly you are in the minority, at least in my community both were i live and were i work, so your opinion dosent really effect me much..

and what you've said is true where I came from as well. In my experience, police departments are also "self-policing," and take out their own garbage.

I'm neither anti cop nor pro drug war. Addressing police and law enforcement as "popo" when talking with a person or people over the age of 4 really sounds quite stupid...jus' sayin' you might want to rethink that.

its like saying the fuzz, or the bizzies... or to some saying the pigs or the heat..

some language which works conversationally doesn't translate well when written...the delivery is different. An example I can think of off the top of my head..I once knew a used car salesman who was a retires army sargent, he was gruff and a little harsh by nature. He would go out on the lot and meet some customers who just drove in with, "I sure hope you aren't expecting to get too much for this piece of shit", referring to their apparent trade in. Because of his nature, body language, and general demeanor most people would laugh or at least not be very offended, it was an effective sales tool for him time and again. If he were responding to an email sent him from a potential customer who became interested in a car from their web site, and used this approach, the potential customer would get pissed and never come in. I'm just saying that it doesn't translate well on this site which is populated by mostly intelligent adults.

If they were, many of our families, friends and neighbors would be behind bars. See how that works?

sounds like a sweet deal actually.

perpetuating, of course, an industrial complex that certainly isn't as lily-white and hero-populated as many of its employees would like to believe and present to the public as true.

no matter what group of people you take, whether white, black, whether male or female, whether a typist or hot dog vendor, there is going to be good and bad, if you realise that then your half way to enlightenment..

That's how I feel when I observe corruption in general. If you realize that, you're midway to enlightenment. No need to thank me, though. I'm one of the few remaining who really care about the whole "protect and serve" thing, as opposed to the newer, jackbooted "monitor and enforce" thing. :hi:

ie not part of my family, which sounds strange but it means im actually very fair and dont play favourites, yup there is corruption in every dept, but some like the one i work in is actually very highly regarded and we do bust our own for shit that gets a pass in other places, but you got to realise that times are changing, we no longer can walk some neighbourhoods and i sure as hell dont want to live in any of them, i would be dead in a matter of hours and my kids too, we are dealing with gangs who are violent as a matter of policy and they are just getting worse..

I would think that internal corruption would make your job a lot more difficult, but it seems--from your many DU posts--that you have a great deal more contempt for the public than you do for corruption your chosen profession. I've known some wonderful LEOs--one of the people I most respect in the world is police chief in a mid-size, midwestern community--but it would not be out of line to surmise that violence seems to be a matter of policy in LEO and "they are just getting worse."

So, how do you deal with corruption when you encounter it among your law enforcement colleagues?

sure theres bad cats, they get spanked and jailed, the problem is that what you would term a cop overstepping the mark, i would look at in a different light, thats why when i see posts about LEO's i try to give a different viewpoint to try to explain why we do certain things a certain way, as ive said time and time again we cant monday morning quaterback in a life or death situation we have to react and sometimes that means we need to do stuff that someone who wasnt there might think is overkill. You dont seem to realise that yes violence is a matter of policy in LEO as in its something we have to deal with everyday, and im sorry but we dont have the time or the ability to be able to meet violence with hugs as that is what gets us killed. Ive stated many times that my rule is if you fight me, then im going home at the end of my shift, i will do whatever i have to to win the fight, some people find this offensive but this is the rules of the street and especially of the jail, i cant afford to let even one subject get the better of me in a fight, as this could mean my kids have to grow up without me. This is the reality we deal with on an everyday basis and it can colour our ooutlook towards the public, but also its the attitude you have towards us when we stop you or you come to us that dictates how the meet will go..

LEOs do. What I don't appreciate is the attitude among many LEOs that we who pay civil servants' wages are somehow automatically the enemy and suspect for any of a number of reasons: we don't fit your physical profile of "law abiding," we may have annoyed you with a blog entry, or whatever. You came to DU and touted your heroism as an LEO, so please don't be offended by honest questions or reminders that you weren't involuntarily conscripted to do what you do. Standing up to corruption among one's peers isn't Monday morning quarterbacking. It's just the right thing to do if one gives half a crap about the long-term credibility of the profession.

unless it puts my family or others in danger, that is what is at issue in the original post, i think we are confusing corruption ie dirty cops with cops who mayby make a bad decision in the moment or who make a decision that ooutsiders looking in deem to be bad but to other leo is understandable, as ive said i dont see corruption in my squad, it could be there but im not all seeing, our dept is very non tolerant of abuses of our powers etc etc and people do get fired, we also get a lot of issues from people outside of our dept who dont understand why we do stuff the way we do, basically its because its been found to work, if there is a better way then we will find it and start to use it, Now you must also realise that to you, when i do a traffic stop, its an incomvenience, to me this could be the one were i die, i dont know who you are, what you are thinking, etc etc, so yes i have to be mindful of my safety, and that has to be paramount when im dealing with you, so yes im going to tell you to keep your hands were i can see them etc etc, this is all stuff we are trained to do and once again we do it because it works..

I have worked in a highly confrontational field for 20 years. I think what most people fail to realize about dealing with the public in an adversarial role is the unpredictable nature of people. I have been attacked by old ladies and greeted with respect by groups of bikers while performing the same action. I have also been given cookies by old ladies and had guns pointed at me by bikers doing the same thing. The only way for those who are charged with doing societies unpleasant tasks to remain safe for the long term, is to treat every person encountered professionally with the same level of caution, regardless of appearance. I used to train my people to do their job EXACTLY the same way EVERY time, from beginning to end, whether they were dealing with a LEO or a crack head. Failure to do this will ultimately end in disaster sooner or later. That cop deals with and does what it is you are encountering him/her doing, every single day. Most people in the public only encounter the police a handful of times in their entire life.

society hasn't gotten any more violent. Thank the ill-guided war on some drugs and the resultant militarization of local police forces for more frequent violent confrontation between law breakers and law enforcement. But really, is it any worse than during Prohibition?

Anyone can take pics, and comment if they see a person at the local store or in the park.

BUT, it sounds like a love revenge thing.

or the jurors names and addresses, remember these guys actually have people who have green lighted them..

and it's more like public information easily accessible with FOI requests.

or is that different, you dont seem to realise that there are a lot of cops who are greenlighted by criminal elements whther you like it or not. can you tell me why the president who works for the government should get any more courtesy than a cop who works for the government when it comes down to keeping us alive..

no, nice false equivalency though. Local cops on a "drug task force" are not on the level of a security clearance. Get over yourself.

gangs, i hate to break it to you but theres a lot of cops and DA's and others ie witnesses that are actively targeted by criminal gangs for death, i dont think you understand the question enough to have answered it..

This chronic abuse of power by police is an epidemic. They really believe they are entitled to bully and silence anyone who speaks up against them, in many venues.

she intentionally put the cops at risk by publishing home addresses etc, she wasnt doing this for some civic purpose.

Unfortunately, many cops think they're part of some imaginary blue line that protects society from itself. They think that society exists so they can have badges, wear guns, and talk shit to citizens.

We have too many cops meddling in too many lives. They're no longer here to protect and serve, but to abuse and degrade.

I consider warning citizens about cops who are out to arrest them as a civic duty, where the "crime" for which they are being arrested is a social crime, not a real one. We don't all goose step, you know.

The 2nd Amendment frothers complain that the police can't protect them, and then howl about police "abusing" their power? They can't have it both ways bubba. Especially with undercover operations, because they are engaged in preventing a crime before a RKBA fanatic needs to use their shiny pistol. They are also laying their lives on the line so that you can continue to falsely accuse them of "abuse."

In a real "police state" everyone on this board could go to jail. The fact that you can accuse someone that you don't know of "bullying and silencing" anyone on an open forum, is proof that you are making strawman arguments, and crying wolf.

The facts (as stated in the article) point out that this nutjob was harassing the undercover agents for many months, and blew their cover. That could have cost them their lives. And if you sincerely believe that the manufactuer and sale of crystal meth is a good thing for our society, I truly feel sorry for you.

It's not meth heads tasering 85 year old men, or knocking 88 year old women to the ground, or dragging a mother from her minivan and tasing her for saying she wasn't on the cell phone.

Meth heads are a social problem.

We spend far, far too much in this country chasing drug users, arresting them, prosecuting them, and incarcerating them. Our country puts more people in prison per capita than any in the world. We're no longer the land of the free, because we have police arresting citizens for doing illegal drugs. Half our prison population is due to drug possession.

Until we stop empowering the police to chase, beat, tase, and kill suspected criminals, the police will present a bigger threat to citizens than any criminal element. Ask the average citizen who they fear when they get into their car. It's the police, not the criminals.

trust me its not a nice thing when the only law and order comes from local militias and gangs, mayby someday you will get your dream and live without the popo. until then im gonna use the crazy person ignore that i got issued when they gave me my gun and badge...

You might be able to see it from where you live.

sorry got no idea what you are talking about, but im sure its in keeping with your derogatory remarks about police officers..

The Andy Griffith Show aka Mayberry RFD.

The story of a little town, it's good sheriff, and it's one deputy, Barney Fife, who wasn't allowed to put a bullet in his gun, but had to carry a single bullet in his shirt pocket, just in case he ever really needed it. Barney's uber police nature was often the focal point of the show's humor.

I'm sure you can catch reruns on the TV Land channel of cable.

well gotta go oppress the masses via installing child safety seats prior to school starting back up, goose stepping my way to the local elementary school... have a good night..

then hell yes, i'll take them over some mental midget cops.

we don't call cops much around here anyway. most of them are pieces of pure shit.

"Meth heads" are a violent, thieving, and dangerous group. I know from where I speak, because my 40 year old son became one, and so did many of his friends. They all ended up in jail for various crimes, most of them violent crimes.

Now please tell me again about how I should feel sorry for thieves, murderers, and other drugged up sociopaths?

hopefully he can kick the shit before it kills him...

learned, unlike other drugs, meth is addictive from first use. Like I said, I've seen its effects up close and personal, and actively helped the local police (some of them his classmates) track down my son. He was on his way to either killing someone, or being killed. One of his friends clubbed a 66 yead old man to death while robbing the man (his uncle) in his home.

He gets out in about a year, and I'll help him all I can -- but I still don't trust him.

from your local churches, helath services etc, as i said meth is one bad mother, if the drug dosent get you then the animals dealing it will, its not a nice world to get sucked into and as i said i hope your son makes it out..

Or didn't you ever read about Prohibition, which CREATED organized crime in this country?

As long as there are guys with badges and guns hunting down, arresting or killing those who use or traffic in meth, there will be criminals running the meth operations. By definition, they become criminals merely by violating the laws which say they can't do that.

Putting them in prison only makes the problem worse, not better. Prisons are where meth operations are run. It's the finishing school for the most criminal elements in the production and supply of meth.

them in prison for grand theft, assault, forgery, and murder, because they wanted more and more meth from the shitheads that sell it? Would that be okay with you anti-social, the-government-is-my-enemy, hate mongers?

One shorted out a signal on the Chicago El and they had to shut down the system a few years ago.

Metal theft is very dangerous and a lot of the people trying to steal metal get electrocuted doing it. Some of these thieves are stupid enough to try to steal metal from power poles.

Assuming it is true, as I stated previously, we should prosecute those who steal, maim, assault or harm others, whether they do so because they're using some drug or not.

And you thought the Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Crips and Aryan Brotherhood were bad.

you know how they volunteer with kids groups, you know do xmas oparties for underprivilidged kids. Its like every cliche from the 70's about cops get recycled here, if it wasnt so sad to see so much memory loss it would be funny.

I admire your tenacity, but you and I both know that these "cop haters" will continue their bullshit "macho man" act as long as they can hide behind their computers in their momma's basement.

Just rest assured that the vast majority of American citizens appreciate, and value our police departments, just as we do our citizen military members.

Very good for phones, if you don't already have it.

http://www.trapster.com/

im sure that it would be perfectly safe, and because its legal and all meth users have incomes they wouldnt have to steal or rob to pay for their habits, and if they cant afford it the taxpayer will supply them with it. Get real, not every drug is the same..

They invade the lives of the innocent and guilty alike, harass people for no good reason, set up entrapment schemes and entice people into committing crimes that people otherwise wouldn't have committed, all to boost their arrest count and get promoted up the ladder.

Granted, this woman is not the most sympathetic or moral and upstanding person, but I think it's high time the cops got a taste of their own medicine.

blogging while home. Way a go officers. You're not winning any friends on this one.

while her hubby is locked away in prison for child porn. They're real pieces of work.