Entrapment, anyone?

NY1 has learned that charges have been dropped against a man arrested for picking up a bag police planted on the subway, but the NYPD says it will not suspend its controversial Lucky Bag sting operation.

The sting operation is set to arrest people who take property that seems to have been abandoned or forgotten.

Aquarius Cheers was arrested in February after he picked up a bag of electronics police had planted on the subway. Police said he was trying to steal the bag, but on Thursday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office dropped the case, saying there was insufficient evidence.

“What’s important today is the district attorney recognized and stated in court that the type of circumstances that have led to these ‘lucky bag’ arrests are not circumstances that constitute a crime,” said Chris Dunn of the Civil Liberties Union.

I have no use for them sometimes. There are occasions where they do a good job, but this kind of stuff really is a black eye on the NYPD. In fact, it’s downright maddening.

via NY1 and Gothamist

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