Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Lesson learned: Don’t ‘Leave’
Next Post: Stop the satellite TV tax!
Posted in:
Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)
* I posted this story yesterday in Morning Shorts. It has since caught fire…
Police officers trying to find out who was behind a fake Twitter account set up in the name of Peoria’s mayor have raided a home, seizing computers and phones and hauling several people in to be questioned.
Tuesday’s raid was carried out by four plainclothes officers even though Twitter had suspended the account several weeks ago. Three people at the home were brought to a police station to be interviewed, as were two other people who were met by police at their workplaces.
No arrests were made in connection with the Twitter account, but one of the residents was charged with possession of marijuana, the (Peoria) Journal Star reported. Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard says officers were investigating it as a possible case of impersonating a public official, an offense punishable with a fine of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail.
The account, @peoriamayor, has been suspended by Twitter administrators. The suspension not only prevents the account holder from using the account to add posts, but it removes all previous Tweets.
* Ironically, a number of new parody accounts for Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and the police chief have popped up since the story became public. The Peoria Journal Star’s digital editor has compiled a list of some of those accounts.
I’m sure this isn’t the last we have heard of this story.
#oy
10:53 a.m. - A Peoria-based writer has a personal interview with the kid behind @peoriamayor. Go and read the whole thing.
When it was active, (Jon) Daniel used it to portray Jim Ardis, the mayor of Peoria, as a weed-smoking, stripper-loving, Midwestern answer to Rob Ford. The account never had more than 50 followers, and Twitter had killed it because it wasn’t clearly marked as a parody. It was a joke, a lark—but it brought the police to Daniel’s door. The cops even took Daniel and one of his housemates in for in-depth questioning—they showed up at their jobs, cuffed them, and confiscated their phones—because of a bunch of Twitter jokes.
…
Full disclosure: Part of the blame for this situation rests on my shoulders. I loudly promoted @peoriamayor when I first noticed it, having no idea someone I knew was responsible for tweets that mostly had the fake mayor using drugs and partying. It was pretty damn funny. One of Daniel’s roommates told me that the first question police asked him was, “How do you know Justin Glawe?”
…
“Tell them my name. Tell them I did it,” he said, acknowledging the cops have him cornered. “But when they lock me up tell them to tweet using the hashtag #freesleezyd.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 5:47 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Lesson learned: Don’t ‘Leave’
Next Post: Stop the satellite TV tax!
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Welp… The Mayor and the Police Chief are now a living parody. Congratulations.
Dopes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 6:31 am
Foolish, foolish use of public resources.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 6:41 am
Curious as to what the Warrant read.
For suspicion of making our mayor look like a buffoon? Wait he’s doing that on his own.
That dude really can’t take a joke.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 7:22 am
The mayor and authority figures are extremely poor sports from the middle school level.
Comment by Bill Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 7:47 am
Still licking my wounds after confusing Ford and Carter in a coffee-free haze last week, but maybe I can make up for it with a copy of the warrant.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/218936549/Complaint-for-search-warrant
Comment by Stuff happens Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 8:32 am
I have known Mayor Ardis for many years and he is a good man. This is just my opinion but I don’t see the humor in this matter. Someone is pretending to be Mayor Ardis. This is a form of identity theft. Kudos to Jim and the Peoria PD for taking this matter seriously.
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 8:48 am
@one of the 35; this still smacks at a 1st amendement right and I can’t beleive that the limited resources the police have had to be devoted to this. The Mayor seems to be very thin skinned and vendictive.
Comment by Jim'e' Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 8:52 am
- One of the 35 -,
You better check with the “other 34″ about Parody and Farce.
The minute, the second, that Parody and Farce is overtaken by Police Powers and Government edict of what is acceptable in Humor, then why be a free society.
Food for thought; How many followers do “The Twiiter” have, and now how many more about “The Twitter”, and the trampling of Free Speech by the Chief and the Mayor.
Incredibly pathetic and sad, and I am sure its under the guise of “protection”…
I hope at least one good Twitter Parody of the Dopey Peoria Mayor rises and just hammers the Mayor and his Chief Wiggum. I miss @SpeakerMadigan, so I need a good Parody Twitter to read.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 8:56 am
Welp, for ALL the defenders of the Dopey Mayor of Peoria and his even more Dopey Police Chief;
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I believe in free speech, especially when I approve of it #WeWillFindYou
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - My Police Chief is just doing his job; fighting unrest of the unclean #PeoriaNeedsPravda
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - The Mayor’s Open Forum will begin once every guest gives their SS#, all their internet passwords, removes all cameras, and are indoctrinated to My talking points #FreeFoodToo
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - East Peoria is harboring fugitive insurrectionist, threatening my regime. This is your Final Warning; Surrender #CyberCafeBeware
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - My thick skin is only topped by my lack of understanding of Free Speech. #LetThemLaughAtSomeoneElse
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - When there is a Budget Shortfall due to a lawsuit filed against a resident and their Rights, I will point to the one count of MJ, that was not on the warrent to justify. #LookAtTheKitty
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I care nothing about people or thier Rights. I do care if you retweet things to less than 100 people. #SmallPotatoesSmallMinded
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:06 am
–Ironically, a number of new parody accounts for Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and the police chief have popped up since the story became public. The Peoria Journal Star’s digital editor has compiled a list of some of those accounts.–
Thatta way, gang!
I guess the Peoria authorities didn’t see that coming, either. The incredibly obvious seems to be beyond their grasp these days.
–This is just my opinion but I don’t see the humor in this matter. Someone is pretending to be Mayor Ardis–
I find humor in state statement, because you can’t be serious. Were they taking out loans? Getting credit cards? Trying to tap his bank account?
No, they were making fun of him. They may or may not have been funny.
What’s not funny is a bunch of cops busting through your front door and grabbing your property, or arresting you at work, because you made fun of a politician.
That’s scary.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:08 am
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I made a 3rd grader cry today for misspelling my name on a poster. I will not be made a Fool! #TooLate
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - When swaering to uphold the Constitution, I always cross my fingers, that way its not really going against anything #JustifyingNothng
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I believe in Rights; I have the right to bully anyone, at any time, using any resource, and the people pay for it #MightBeMisunderstandingButItWorksForMe
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:29 am
“Police officers trying to find out who was behind a fake Twitter account set up in the name of Peoria’s mayor have raided a home, seizing computers and phones and hauling several people in to be questioned.”
I would love to see the warrant… Really? a RAID?
Its stuff like this that makes people really not trust the .GOV.
“You make fun of us and we RAID your home”
Comment by RonOglesby Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:29 am
(720 ILCS 5/17-2) (from Ch. 38, par. 17-2) is all about someone misrepresenting as a veteran or public official for profit, gain or to do public harm. Examples of criminal conduct - a bogus fireman taking your child away to do harm. Misrepresenting oneself as a veteran to collect money. The entire statute is along way from protecting the sensitivities of a public servant who has their nose twisted out of joint. Guess that is why no charges filed on the twitter account. Looks like all the search warrant found was a stash of grass left over from a retro “That 70’s Show” party.
Comment by anonymoose Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:30 am
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I have given the order that no toys are allowed in Peoria, and laughing and fun are prohibited #BurgerMeisterMeisterBurger #FirstAmendemtRightsAreLeavingOurTown
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:35 am
Talk about a mayor that needs a hobby and a dose of reality.
Comment by Jorge Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:37 am
The warrant is here: http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140417/NEWS/140419023?utm_content=buffere494d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Comment by yinn Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:38 am
Mayor Rahm Emanuel had the most celebrated Twitter Parody, possibly … ever.
Did Rahm look for the guy? Nope.
@SpeakerMadigan… were their cried from the Speaker’s Office for the identity? Can’t recall any.
What makes the Peoria Mayor so special that a Twitter account is something that needs two judges, and and raid?
If it wasn’t funny, then it ain’t funny. Some parody Twitters stink. A rare few are genius.
Whoever is advising the Mayor, or whoever is the Flack dealing with the press during this, you should be embarassed that you let such a meaningless Parody get ridiculed and mocked with even more Parody twitters.
My only hope is that the Mayor has to testify to all this, but you see, there were no charges against the Parody… just like getting your enemies by being a bully, and ignoring the rule of law to do it.
Who is more pathetic, the Mayor, or the Chief who willfully went about this, using police powers because the mayor is a hot head?
Rahm…Rahm Emanuel let parodies go. Yikes.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:50 am
One of the 35
Parody, and to a lessor extent, satire, are considered a “fair use” of copyright, etc. Further, the Sullivan decision makes it nearly impossible for a public figure to when a libel / slander suit. So, unless this Twitter account did imitations of the classic George Smathers or Lyndon Johnson political smears, the Mayor seems to be over-reaching.
Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:55 am
Jeez folks this is simple stuff. Use a VPN. Extremely cheap, military grade encryption, no records kept. It’s bulletproof unless very high up feds want to know who you are, and even then it would take time to crack.
This comment is being made from the Netherlands
Comment by Anon Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 9:57 am
If the parody account is all harmless fun, then why did Twitter suspend the account when it was discovered to be a parody? Why not just “let the fun continue?”
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:00 am
I suspect the City of Peoria will be subsidizing a brand new computer for @peoriamayor with part of the settlement they’ll have to pay on this one.
Comment by PolPal56 Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:05 am
===If the parody account is all harmless fun, then why did Twitter suspend the account when it was discovered to be a parody? Why not just “let the fun continue?”===
Because the Mayor is a whiny/baby and just shutting it down is less of a headache.
Ok, more defending …
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I am a good man, ask anyone once I approve of what they say. #MayorSpeechIsFreeSpeech
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - Police Powers are cool. I just got the Police chief to give a ticket to the woman who was ahead of me at @Starbucks #DoubleLatteWithDisorderyConductTicket
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - My goal is for Uniformity and Conformity to how and what I want. That will show that Pesky US Constitution! #SheriffTellsChiefHowItIs
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - Parody and Farce? I went to school with them. Bullied them then too. #CantLaughAtSelfSoDefyRuleOfLaw
…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:16 am
=== I suspect the City of Peoria will be subsidizing a brand new computer for @peoriamayor with part of the settlement they’ll have to pay on this one. ===
They’d better pay on this one. The mayor acted like an imbecile, and the police chief behaved like a thug.
The first order of business is retaining a competent attorney to quash that search warrant - and the resulting findings - asap.
Thereafter, the PJ Star needs to find its backbone give this mayor and his police chief the storm of grief they deserve.
This is an absolutely atrocious use of public resources and police power.
Comment by Raymond Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:22 am
OW:
So, Twitter only shuts down parody accounts if the person parodied is a whiny/baby? I thought they had a policy to shut down any account where impersonation was discovered. Why do you suppose that is?
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:30 am
More on Chief Wiggum:
“Police Chief Steve Settingsgaard lost a binder marked “confidential” containing the department’s internal investigation materials near a grocery parking lot in North Peoria, where it was discovered and perused by a citizen. The man, who returned the material to the department, was arrested two days later on major drug charges by officers in the same unit that was the subject of the report.”
Parody accounts, have at it!
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20131212/NEWS/131219689
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:34 am
This is all about a small time mayor with a small time mindset. The account had already been closed by twitter. A letter from the District Attorney’s office or a phone call to the offending party would have sufficed. 4-7 officers storming the home and going to resident’s place of employment is silly and vindictive all at once. Hauling away computer equipment, phones, etc smacks of a child porn bust, not political satire. I suspect an apology will be forthcoming from the city hoping to avoid a lawsuit.
Comment by Peoria guy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:38 am
- One of the 35 -,
I don’t work for Twitter. I was mocking that the Peoria Mayor just couldn’t let it be. I was mocking the idea that like the baby, even getting his “Way” the tamtrum keeps going and going.
The Mayor just couldn’t let that be it. The Bully, the Mayor, had to make sure that he used Police Powers, and pulling a man out of the shower.
It appears the Rule of Law, and the Constitution, and Rights of citizens will not get in the way of a whiny/baby Mayor, whose tantrum needed a Police Chief.
Pathetic way to be about America, democracy, freedom … but a great way to see abuse of power.
More defending …
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I believe in rights. I have the Right to trample your Rights when my feelings are hurt. #ItsAboutMe
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - If the ACLU gets ahold of this, I can’t wait for the city attorney to defend my rights of an alleged abuse of Police Powers #MeantWellOnlyForMe
…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:39 am
One of
You do realize that there is a difference between impersonating a private citizen and a public official?
Public Parody of Public Officials has a history as long as the U.S. has been a thought in someones head.
At best this guy committed a misdemenor. There was nothing more important in all of Peoria to do than chase down a silly Twitter account??
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:39 am
From the story of the raid on the fake twitter accountholder:
“Police seized several iPhones, two Xbox video game consoles, computers, pieces of mail, drug paraphernalia, alleged marijuana and digital memory cards.”
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - One more thing guys, can you grab two Xboxes so the chief and I can go online and play?
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:41 am
One of, you don’t have a wee bit of a problem with seven detectives entering a home, taking computer equipment, plus arresting others at work, in this matter?
For crying out loud, man, this is America.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:42 am
It seemed like the biggest irony is the mope had between 30 and 500 grams of dope in his little blagosphere nest. So the Mope can keep his laptop and work on getting the drug bust off his criminal records and off the PJS website and future job application. Sounds like a parody to me
Comment by circularfiringsquad Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:43 am
I understand that public officials have to have a thick skin and that as a public official people have a right to make fun of you. But my question remains: Why does Twitter have a policy of immediately removing accounts where impersonation is discovered? Can anyone take a stab at answering this question without berating the Mayor?
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:45 am
1/35: Stop digging.
Comment by John Wood Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:45 am
John
That is good advice too bad someone didn’t give it to the Mayor. I am also wondering if you didn’t just give it to the Mayor.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:48 am
One of 35
Twitter is a private company that can have any policy it wants.
Using Police powers, government resources to arrest, search, confiscate, etc HAS NOTHING TO DO with what twitter does.
If could have a policy that says “We disable any accounts that make fun of religion”… that doesnt make it law, and may be bad policy for their business but will not mean that if my account was disabled under that policy the religious police show up at my door to arrest me and confiscate my phone, computers, and damn XBOX!
Comment by RonOglesby Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:49 am
===Can anyone take a stab at answering this question without berating the Mayor?===
The Mayor who sent detectives, to a home to sieze computers, and xboxes and internet devices becuase is “Fee-Fees” were hurt?
That Mayor, the Bully?
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I can’t wait to see how many more Parody Accounts mock me. I might need more police! #BruteSquad
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I am so excited that My Police Chief ran amok of the Constitution for me. Atta Boy! #WorkForMeNotThePeople
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I plan on allowing comments to stay open on the City Website. rest assured, any complaint will be “answered” #DontBeScaredBeAfraid
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:51 am
JW:
So your answer to my question is: “Stop asking questions.”
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:53 am
For any judge to believe a “fake” twitter account, which by the way could exist in the millions, is somehow “identity theft” under the statute, is frankly sloppy and foolish. This has become a standard way to mock and criticize public officials. As such, you probably cannot even make a reasonable slander case out of it.
Is that even the judge’s real signature on the warrant?
I stick with my previous comment, the police should have known better, and the judge should be formally censured.
Comment by Walker Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:53 am
@ One of 35
Let me help you out here.
https://support.twitter.com/articles/106373#
Follow the link and you’ll see that the individual in question didn’t use Twitters specific policies (aka lacking legal enforcement) as for their parody account. If they tweak it Twitter will happily reinstate the account.
If you can’t see the difference between Twitters “policy” and “law” see RonO.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:53 am
===1/35: Stop digging.===
Sage Advice …
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - Defenders of me will recieve the “Mayoral Award” and will be allowed 2 criticisms of me without a SWAT Team visit. #BenevolentLeadership
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - Sorry PJ-S, this is fair warning, your cartoonist may not make it to work today, unless he has bail money on hand. #LookOverYourShoulderIllBeThere
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:58 am
1/35. Your questions have been answered, but you’re right…I shouldn’t act like Ardis and attempt to silence you. Keep digging!
Comment by John Wood Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 10:59 am
Off state time for a second to post an update on this one. The account holder has been identified.
#freesleezyD
OK. Back to work.
Comment by Barton Lorimor Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:00 am
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - @ChiefWiggum, is our SWAT Team well-rested? See if you can track down these cap fax commenters.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:02 am
1/35- Ron pretty much summed up why twitter’s policy has nothing to do with the issue at hand. But, to end your hopeless defense here is what the Twitters has to say (hint: it doesn’t take a criminal mastermind the get deactivated)…
Users are allowed to create parody, newsfeed, commentary, and fan accounts on Twitter, provided that the accounts follow the requirements below.
Requirements for parody, newsfeed, commentary, and fan accounts
Here are the requirements for marking your account. All requirements must be met in order to comply with our parody policy.
Avatar: The avatar should not be the exact trademark or logo of the account subject.
Account Name: The name should not be the exact name of the account subject without some other distinguishing word, such as “not,” “fake,” or “fan.”
Bio: The bio should include a statement to distinguish it from the account subject, such as “This is a parody,” “This is a fan page,” “Parody Account,” “Fan Account,” “Role-playing Account,” or “This is not affiliated with…”
Please note that your account must be fully compliant with the Twitter Rules and Terms of Service in addition to meeting these requirements.
Comment by Jimmy CrackCorn Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:02 am
==If the parody account is all harmless fun, then why did Twitter suspend the account when it was discovered to be a parody? Why not just “let the fun continue?”==
Mason explained it well above, but it’s essentially the difference between someone kicking you out of their house and someone calling the police because you’re trespassing. If Twitter finds you breaking the law, they might call the police. If Twitter finds you breaking the rules (which, in this case is just a rule to make sure that people don’t come to a parody account and think it’s the real thing), they might close your account temporarily until the problem is solved. There’s probably some sort of account controls that you can still change after an account has been “closed”.
Comment by Timmeh Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:05 am
Man i read the interview how did they take this hardened community terror alive with only 7 detectives??
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:06 am
–Why does Twitter have a policy of immediately removing accounts where impersonation is discovered?–
Geez, dude, you’ve got to be kidding.
For crying out loud, there are Twitter parody accounts for Obama, Putin, Pope Francis, Kim Jong Un, every major public figure in the world.
But this Peoria mayor has to kick the doors in?
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:07 am
#PatQuinn why didn’t i think of that. ISP find #SqueezyPython
Wordslinger brings up a great point if the Secret Service isn’t kicking down doors to find the Obama Parodies how do You justify one little Peoria Mayor.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:13 am
===Wordslinger brings up a great point if the Secret Service isn’t kicking down doors to find the Obama Parodies how do You justify one little Peoria Mayor.===
Here endeth the lesson.
I was not ignoring the question, BTW, it appears many tried, on numerous comments, to point to the difference. I read the comments, all of them.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:17 am
==Man i read the interview how did they take this hardened community terror alive with only 7 detectives??==
This raid happened Tuesday. That same day, also in Peoria, a 55 year old woman fought off a knife-wielding robber. Police haven’t found the suspect. http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140416/NEWS/140419137/1998/NEWS
Comment by Robert the Bruce Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:18 am
The real Question the citizens of Peoria should be asking is how do we recall our Mayor? (the Dope was elected in ‘13) If he’ll abuse the rights of citizens over something this minor it’s time for him to go.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:21 am
This made Drudgereport so the mayor is now being parodied all across the nation.
Comment by Huh Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:38 am
–This made Drudgereport so the mayor is now being parodied all across the nation.–
Yet another wildly obvious consequence that apparently did not occur to the big brains in Peoria City Hall before they took their ridiculous, yet still sinister, actions.
This whole episode has been one heaping bowl of bad judgement by Peoria “leaders.”
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:43 am
Now its been picked up by Reason.com who also links to this Vice article on it, with more knocks against the local PD and abuse.
http://reason.com/blog/2014/04/18/peoria-mayor-calls-out-police-to-track-d
http://www.vice.com/read/the-police-raided-my-friends-house-over-a-parody-twitter-account
The Streisand Effect is in Full swing. How you feeling now Mr Mayor?
Comment by RonOglesby Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:48 am
Its really funny. Simple letter, or complaint to twitter would have shut this down.
But when you are in gov anything you dont like you look to use force to stop. And the smaller your enclave/fiefdom the larger the amount of force you tend to use. Sick.
Comment by RonOglesby Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:52 am
Here’s hoping the National attention leads to a resignation.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:53 am
I want to see the arraignment for this guy. Want to bet the judge shows up with a paper sack over his head?
Who’s the poor assistant state’s attorney who gets to take the bullet for this one?
They’ll be scattering like roaches to get away from this one.
Comment by Judgment Day Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:54 am
–I want to see the arraignment for this guy–
If they were smart, they’d boot it and return all the property immediately.
If the mayor is smart, he’ll throw the police chief under the bus and make a joke about it.
Having said that, I haven’t seen a whole lot of “smart” in this story yet.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:56 am
“Man i read the interview how did they take this hardened community terror alive with only 7 detectives?”
It’s Domestic Terrorism I tell you, Domestic Terrorism!
Btw, just a thought. If they only busted the guy for some pot, why did the confiscate all the electronics gear. Last time I checked, there was no “XBOX Pot Smoking Accessory”.-
Comment by Judgment Day Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 11:59 am
Some high profile attorney. looking for a huge take of a settlement might find his/her way down Peoria way …
Cut bait, and give up the ship Mr. Mayor.
Police Chiefs “retire” every day. No big woop.
The circus is bound for Peoria, and the Peoria Civic Center ain’t gonna hold this circus.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:02 pm
==Mayor Rahm Emanuel had the most celebrated Twitter Parody, possibly … ever.
Did Rahm look for the guy? Nope.==
Hell, he gave money to the guy’s favorite cause. I’m not a fan of Rahm, but he was really classy about @MayorEmanuel.
There’s no excuse for raiding someone’s home and seizing their property over a silly parody Twitter account. That makes Ardis look so much worse than the parody account ever could. He needs somebody to explain the Streisand effect to him.
Comment by TooManyJens Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:05 pm
===Cut bait, and give up the ship Mr. Mayor.===
Apologies, to be quite clear, make sure this case doesn’t see the light of day in a Courthouse.
The voters, and people of Peoria need to decide at the ballot box on the Mayor, next time he faces them.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:05 pm
The only rational excuse I can come up with is some of these guys own Twitter stock (btw, it’s up right now).
Comment by Judgment Day Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:17 pm
Hey Willy, do you think I need to label my Tweeter as a “parody account?”
Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:24 pm
I hope there’s room at Guantanamo.
Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:30 pm
- AA -,
Reading your tweets, I do worry about you.
Given the fact that “Mr. Aruthur Andersen passed in 1947, I am going to go out on an limb and say he is not on “The Twitter”.
You could use the “This is a parody of nothing, but the name of a guy who passed in 1947.”
If it were me, I would just wait for the Peoria Mayor to raid your house/workplace/social gathering before caving, then sue.
But I’m a gambler that way.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:30 pm
I hope the writers for “Parks and Recreation” are paying attention to this debacle. The mayor and his SWAT team are basically writing an episode for them.
@FakeRonSwanson would have some hilarious tweets.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:32 pm
If we keep this up, we can hit the ‘100 post’ level before the end of the day….
Comment by Judgment Day Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:45 pm
Just imagine what the real God could do, if angered.
https://twitter.com/TheTweetOfGod
Comment by Bill White Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 12:51 pm
That should have said “… some CLE on internet communications and the first and fourth amendments.”
Comment by Raymond Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 1:07 pm
i once saw george w. bush speak on television. later i realized it was an inpersonation of the president of the usa done by will ferrall. (i actually knew it was him, lol). why was this any different than what the kids did?
also, lets not forget the sarah palin skit, the then mayor of alaska.
really? peoria…….. really?
Comment by Throwing Stones Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 1:28 pm
Wordslinger
I have an Unrelated Question for you. Read an article in the Chicago Magazine about McCarthy cooking the crime books. My question is is Chicago Magazine reliable source? Never read them before.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 1:36 pm
Mason, I haven’t read that article yet. I read a story-about-the-story, in which the cops say it’s shoddy, the mag says it’s solid.
Chicago Mag is mostly known for restaurant reviews and covering the social scene. When they undertake any heavy lifting, it’s probably best to judge each article on its own merits.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 1:46 pm
Thanks Word.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 1:49 pm
And now we know how wordslinger feels, lol.
I. Must. Learn. To. Type. Faster.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 1:58 pm
Now Instapundit has picked it up… Wow. I bet the mayor would have got less publicity if he had left the account ACTIVE with all of its 50 followers… Now hundreds if not thousands of people KNOW what he is.
Comment by RonOglesby Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 2:05 pm
Hey Mayor Ardis:
You made the Washington Post!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/04/18/police-raid-roundup/
Comment by Raymond Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 2:19 pm
I think everyone should wear Mayor Ardis masks for Halloween this year. That’ll certainly keep the Peoria Police busy.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 2:43 pm
Add FOX to the list of organizations covering this.
So to stop 50 people from laughing at you you’ve abused your authority, violated a citizens rights, and taken resources of the police away from real crimes. Net result the whole Nation is laughing at you. Kind of poetic justice.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 2:49 pm
What dopes — typical small town mentality. Where did the apologist 1/35 go ??
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 2:56 pm
– Kind of poetic justice.–
Absolutely. And easily foreseeable, if there had been a functioning brain among them.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 2:57 pm
I would bet dollars to doughnut that if Barton checked the IP address that “one of 35″ was posting from, it would point to Peoria city hall.
Comment by Lester Holt's Mustache Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:17 pm
Lester
Na the mayor prefers to use his Iphone.
Comment by Mason born Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:20 pm
@DopeyPeoriaMayor - I responded to a Columnist of the PS-J, but won’t return reporters’ calls. “No regrests” = “I am a Dope!” #RightsDontMatter #IgnoranceIsDopeyPeoriaMayor
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:39 pm
Waiting to see when that silly @Quinnocchio account holder gets arrested.
Comment by Stuff happens Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:45 pm
===Waiting to see when that silly @Quinnocchio account holder gets arrested.===
Won’t happen.
That Twitter is vile, so Quinn wants that up to point to at Rauner, and Rauner, is he going to go after a Twitter account?
Dopes go after Twitter accounts, and raid houses, and go beyond Twitter shutting them down… and use Chiefs of Police and Judges like a bully.
Quinn and Rauner are smarter than that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:48 pm
Way to go, Jim….
Maybe you can use this whole episode as a great example of how “social media conscious” Peoria City Government is when pitching Peoria to prospective businesses…
Actually, all the smaller communities around you really appreciate this. It will be like “Well, at least we didn’t do what Peoria did…”
Comment by Judgment Day Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:48 pm
Peoria SWAT:
S.ending W.eaponry A.gainst T.witter
The @DopeyPeoriaMayor “Way”
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:55 pm
wordslinger - my 1:58 post don’t make much sense without the context of the post just before it, which looks to be moderated. Know that I am making fun of my slow typing skills in that post, not you or anyone else. Have a good weekend, everyone.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 3:58 pm
Highlights from the PJS story filed six hours ago:
– Mayor Ardis personally ordered the police to track down the tweeter.
– Police spent “two to three weeks” investigating.
— Three different judges signed off on warrants. One for Twitter, one for Comcast, one for the raid.
Add to that we know seven detectives participated in the raid at the house and some of those involved were arrested and cuffed at their workplaces.
Putin ain’t got nothing on Peoria County. Remind me to steer clear.
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20140417/NEWS/140419023
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 4:06 pm
I wonder how soon there might be litigation against the Mayor, and the Police Department?
The Mayor himself signing off on this reeeks of a self-absorbed bad guy, trying to rule through fear.
These guys had to think this might make news … right? Wow.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 4:09 pm
Maybe there should be a hashtag
#GoingChristie
Comment by Bill White Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 4:09 pm
And now the story is up on Sky News, Murdoch’s 24-hour, multi-platform, worldwide news service.
Can’t buy that kind of publicity, for any price.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 4:14 pm
Well, it played in Peoria, so it must “play out” on the global scale I guess.
Hiding from reporters on Good Friday, when all this could be buried over the Weekend, who is “helping” this guy.
Can’t wait for the Column, and the “no regrets” bit.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 18, 14 @ 4:17 pm