Civil asset forfeiture trends after police dog praised for finding $100,000 cash in passenger's luggage

Usually, you see the trending topic first and then check to find out what it’s about, but in this case, we saw the tweet first and knew exactly why “civil asset forfeiture” was trending. CBS Dallas-Fort Worth on Tuesday reported on a police dog that was being praised for sniffing out $100,000 cash in a woman’s luggage at a Dallas airport.

High praise for a K-9 officer at Dallas Love Field Airport after more than $100,000 was found in a passenger's luggage. https://t.co/lJoDg5lWfh pic.twitter.com/sA1unHSCCB

— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) December 7, 2021

CBS DFW reports:

On December 2 the canine — named ‘Ballentine’ — alerted on an individual checked suitcase. It turns out the bag, that belonged to 25-year-old woman from Chicago who was on a layover at the airport, contained blankets and two large bubble envelopes filled with $106,829 in cash.

The woman who owned the bag was not arrested, but the money was seized and police say it will be subject to the civil asset forfeiture process.

You’re free to go, but the money stays with us. Yes, apparently there are rules about this, but not everyone considers this a cute dog story.

What’s it like? pic.twitter.com/hwHnqXHqba

— Whatever (@heinslmn) December 7, 2021

I'm sure they'll put that $90,000 to good use.

— Devolder Organization Chief Imagination Officer (@HotTakesBun) December 7, 2021

Listen, this $75K is going to do a lot of good use in the community and shame on those suggesting otherwise

— The Honorable Judge Reinhold (@minstrel_cramp) December 7, 2021

"The woman who owned the bag was not arrested, but the money was seized and police say it will be subject to the civil asset forfeiture process."

So they just stole her money? And this is feel-good news for some reason?

— Sarcasmorator (@Sarcasmorator) December 7, 2021

Congratulations on your robbery, I guesshttps://t.co/0fCH0Fi7n9

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

true story, I once sold a very nice car to a guy who drove from TX to Chicago to get it. Paid in cash, and it was… a shit ton of money. Gave me phone # of his bank in TX, and they verified that he had made the cash withdrawal 2 days earlier, so not counterfeit.

/1

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

I asked him if he was nervous driving 1200 miles with that much cash on him, and he sorta laughed and said, "nah, I always travel with my friend," and showed me the .45 he kept under the seat of his truck.

Never asked him why he wanted to pay cash, cuz none of my business.
/2

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

I thought he was nuts. Not because of the threat of robbers, but because of the threat of asset forfeiture cops. At that point his .45 would be useless, or get him thrown in jail. Or killed.

And I'm pretty sure telling the cop "I'm using it to buy a car" wouldn't wash.
/3

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

Anyway, he was an older white guy in a pickup with a trailer, so maybe he really didn't have much to worry about.

Now imagine two younger black or Hispanic guys, traveling to buy a cheap old car for $7000, and they get pulled over. Now it's asset forfeiture open season.

/4

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

Fact is it's at the discretion of the cop. If you can't explain to the cop's satisfaction why you have that much money, they can conclude it was acquired illegally, and Fuck You buddy, hire a lawyer to prove it wasn't. Which will cost you more that the cash itself.

/5

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

And where does that confiscated money go? It stays right there with the cops, natch, so they can spend it on surplus armored MRAPs and such, a reward for keeping us citizens safe from the danger of people driving around with cash.

real Sheriff of Nottingham bullshit.

/6

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

Don't know if anyone has updated this recently, but as of 2014, the majority of robbery in this country was carried out by cops. pic.twitter.com/Ac78oQzD4z

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

There are plenty of legitimate reasons for people to carry large amounts of cash, no matter how "sketchy" or "suspicious" or "nervous" the cops find them. For crissakes, who wouldn't be, talking to an armed bandit with a badge?

/8

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

How this abomination against due process is allowed to continue in this country simply boggles my mind. I have to believe it's an issue that should unite people across the political spectrum. Who the fuck could possibly defend it as policy?

/9

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

I know there’s a 10k ceiling on carrying cash internationally, but it doesn’t say where the flight was going to/coming from. But it seems like being fined for it would be the move, not stealing it!

— Keith Weesner (@KeithWeesner) December 7, 2021

it was from Chicago to Dallas.

Asset forfeiture is the most insane unconstitutional practice that is somehow allowed to go on in this country. Cops use it to literally take more money from citizens than the combined value of all theft in the US.

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) December 7, 2021

High praise for the theft of private funds for which no evidence existed that it was related to criminal activity? That's gonna be a no from me.

— Physics Geek (@physicsgeek) December 7, 2021

My dog has the same satisfied expression when he steals the lunch off my plate, and for much the same reason

— Andrew S. (@shoutingboy) December 7, 2021

Why did you take her money? What law did she break? Serious question!

— Kerry 🇺🇸 (@K1erry) December 7, 2021

Is it illegal to have money now?

— Brian Danger Hicks 🏴‍☠️ (@crazyunlikeafox) December 7, 2021

Wait, did the passenger do anything wrong or did she just have a lot of money???

— The Lee is so Back Report (@BelkReport) December 7, 2021

"Cops used dog to steal more than $100,000 from passenger without stating cause."

— Joel Berger (@teknomantik) December 7, 2021

Please let the dog know that we aren’t mad at them and this isn’t their fault

— Ryan Loco (@RyanLoco) December 7, 2021

https://twitter.com/kechpaja/status/1468270336311504900

I adore dogs but what was the crime here? Is it illegal to travel with cash? https://t.co/QQy0kDi1Zj

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) December 7, 2021

https://twitter.com/Arkyhog/status/1468281376709484552

Probably had the audacity to cross state lines

— Kevin Delaney (@KDDelaney) December 7, 2021

This guy traveled across country with cash to buy semi for his trucking company, only to have it seized in PHX.https://t.co/jIEliHmCsL

— namecannotbeblank (@bullseye_gotcha) December 7, 2021

https://t.co/xHSHx7SgQd

Christian Group touring the United States to raise money for a Christian liberal arts school in Burma and an orphanage in Thailand. 1/2

— Shawn Hovis (@S_Hovis) December 7, 2021

https://twitter.com/bulippishard/status/1468313653183188998