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Allegation: Philly Cops Leaned Suspect Over Balcony To Obtain Password

Posted by timothy on from the forget-it-jake-it's-the-city-of-brotherly-love dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this news from Ars Technica: If you want access to encrypted data on a drug dealer's digital device, you might try to break the crypto—or you might just try to break the man.

According to testimony from a police corruption trial currently roiling the city of Philadelphia, officers from an undercover drug squad took the latter route back in November 2007. After arresting their suspect, Michael Cascioli, in the hallway outside his 18th floor apartment, the officers took Cascioli back inside. Although they lacked a search warrant, the cops searched Cascioli's rooms anyway. According to a federal indictment (PDF), the officers 'repeatedly assaulted and threatened [Cascioli] during the search to obtain information about the location of money, drugs, and drug suppliers.' That included, according to Cascioli, lifting him over the edge of his balcony to try to frighten out of him the password to his Palm Pilot. That sounds like a good time for a duress password.

3 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. Done in movies... by mi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I remember it being done in a few movies — by the good guys — without anybody in the audience cringing. Nor do I remember any calls to boycott a movie over such things.

    So, if popular culture approves of and encourages it, can't blame the cops too much for doing it despite it being merely illegal...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Done in movies... by jklovanc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Some of of can tell the difference between fiction and reality. They get away with lots of things in movies that are not acceptable in real life.

    2. Re:Done in movies... by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You seem to be under the illusion that people in general act on a moral, principled basis in all (or even most) aspects of life.

      You are sadly mistaken and delusional if you think that.

      You haven't spent nearly enough time around people if you are expecting moral condemnation from most movie goers.

      People are, not nearly as deep down as we'd like to think, complete fucking barbarians. And don't ever forget it.

      Most people don't commit crimes for fear of punishment, not because they morally object. On balance, the human race is far more amoral than people like to believe.

      And anything which relies on the inherent goodness of humans is probably useless. Because humans aren't inherently good.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.