NYPD Arrest Man For Marijuana Joint In Harlem

Joseph "Jazz" Hayden Founder of Still Here Harlem Productions filmed these 3 undercover NYPD police officers search, frisk and arrest a Harlem citizen after finding a joint of marijuana. Jazz, vocally questioned the officers conduct and procedures, considering that a small amount of marijuana is considered a violation in New York State. This incident took place two days after a very violent shooting incident in Harlem involving police http://bit.ly/cy4t5X and community members .

Marijuana possession is legally decriminalized in New York State, yet New York City makes more pot arrests than any other city in the world. Since 1993 NYPD has arrested close to a half million people for possessing small amounts of marijuana. In 2008 alone nearly 90 percent of these arrests were made on black and latino New Yorkers. (Harry G. Levine, The Epidemic of Pot Arrests in New York City, http://bit.ly/axTe0C)

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[AllThingsHarlem]

The police are only part of the problem; there are the courts and the legislators who pass these laws telling people what they can and can't put in their bodies. It is the lawmakers that criminalize behavior they don't like. And, it is robots like you that accept their bullshit without question. You're a follower. You lack a mind of your own.

[A1exDaGreat]

In conclusion, Captains and higher Ranked officers are forgetting the true essence of police work. ENFORCING THE PETTY STUFF IS GOOD; HOWEVER, THATS A POLICE OFFICERS DISCRETION TO ENFORCE NOT A CAPTAINS, BLOOMBERG OR KELLYS DISCRETION BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN THE FRONT LINE. Because of the quotas, REAL COPS (Transit, Housing, precincts) don't allow them to do their job, think or even act for themselves. The higher ranks are just hurting the relationship b/w cops and the community.

[AllThingsHarlem]

@A1exDaGreat I share your analysis of the problem but I hear nothing from you on the solution. Should we silently consent to having an institution that is carried by our tax dollars define its mission, and control us with fear and intimadation so that they can please their masters? What is the solution?

[astoriazfinest13]

i live in ny and wana be in the NYPD....but i agree a joint shouldnt be enuff to take a person to jail...who knows tho mayb he gave the cops a hard time when they rolled up or mayb he didnt have ID or mayb he had a warrant..its sad

[AllThingsHarlem]

@astoriazfinest13 or mayber the police were trying to fill quota's and look good for their boss. You saw how proud the one officer held the joint like it was a big accomplishment. Check out information on police quotas, search NYPD Police Tapes by from the Village Voice and Jim Hoffer's Channel 7 Eyewitness news piece on the issue. Message us if you need the links.

[killadanger]

@daddyvane. small amounts of marrijuanna is decriminalize. theres no reason for these cops to arrest him for 1 joint. its a 100 dollar ticket for possession. they arrest alot of blaccs and hispanics for using marrijuanna but yet they hardly arrest whites. these cops should be investigating the murder that happened in harlem. not fuccing up another persons life for a joint of marrijuanna. and by the way most people who smoke marrijuanna are hard working people who go to school and work.

[TheRobbed718]

@AllThingsHarlem

What the police are doing is police brutaility and violates your amendment rights and civil liberties given to you under the constiution. I am fighting to change the laws, I believe this is completely unacceptable and America is seriouslly int he drain if the drug policy is we are still arresting people for Marijuana there are drugs that are much more harmful we should regulate and legalize marijuana like alcohol and other drugs that are legal.

[tjhillgardner]

Usually the arrest is justified only if the cannabis is burning or open to public view. Most of the 50,000 cannabis arrests that happen each year in NYC are the result of illegal stop and frisks that end up being an "empty your pockets" scenario with police then claiming that the cannabis produced is in "open view" justifying the arrest. But if you look at the basis for the initial stop it's usually complete bullshit.

[tjhillgardner]

@joedinaadi Given the video footage which did not show the "perp" immediately prior to the police encounter, and without hearing the police officer and the perp's testimony as to how the police recovered the joint, it is gross speculation to claim that the police were justified in every possible way to arrest that man.

[saad869]

mate if they dont legalize weed aka marijuana in the next couple of years , I wont have no fate in humanity ... i mEAN THIS IS BULLSHIT .. cuffing a man for smoking a joint ..what is the world coming to ..fucking pathetic..

[0912vinny]

Officers working in HARLEM and other HIGH CRIME AREAS in the city arre perceived as being racist and hostile so to prove to those who are quick to judge like the one recording the officer showed that he was acting within lawful guidelines. In many cases good arrests are made as a result of a small offense violated. the man is arrsted for Criminal Poss. of Marijuana a Misdemeanor offense. If no other charge and if no Active warrant he will be released from pct in 2hrs with a desk appe. ticket.

[starmanskye]

When common-sense and common justice become UNcommon, the Nation is doing DOWN. Look at the incredible irony and hypocrisy here -- While TRILLIONS are being, have been, systematically looted on Wall Street where people have lost their pensions and life-savings, losing their homes, saddled with unpayable public debt by the most unprincipled financial gangsters & political cons, half-a-city-away people are being preyed-on by a corrupt police-and-law bureaucracy over petty bullshit. INCREDIBLE ...

[Souljablackie]

good for that man

[fredje93]

god , im happy my hometown is the netherlands

out her on the streets u can u smoke walk by

atleast they will point u to move to a spot wher

its silence a park ' or some spot at the water.

[GOGOGOMER420KUSHHED]

fuckn pig