American Police Beat: January 2018 31 Insurance informant leaves cops holding the bag – a bag of hibiscus T hings are chang- ing fast when it comes to can- nabis, and it’s critical that law enforce- ment be ready to adapt to those changes. In Pennsylvania an el- derly couple say they’re filing a lawsuit after they were either arrest- ed or detained after an insurance agent called police and informed them that the couple was growing marijuana. The whole thing is a comedy of errors. Edward and Audrey Cramer (69 and 66, re- spectively) say that they called their insurance company, Nationwide, after a tree fell on or near their Buffalo Township home. The insurance agent then sent local po- lice photos of what he thought were marijuana plants being grown in flowerpots. The Cramers say po- lice came heavy with a tactical team. Audrey Cramer, 66, said she was in her under- wear when she went to the door. She says she asked the officers if she could put on a pair of pants before being taken to jail but was told no. “I was not treated as though I was a human being,” she said. “I was just something they were going to push aside.” She asked to see a warrant but says police failed to pro- duce any such documents. Edward Cramer, 69, arrived at the residence about a half-hour after his wife had been hand- cuffed. Despite his expla- nation that the plants were not marijuana but rather hibiscus, he was cuffed and loaded into a cruiser as well. “They actually ignored me,” he said. “They wouldn’t even lis- ten. I said, ‘I can show you pictures on the internet.’” The Cramers eventually were released without charges. They are seek- ing monetary and com- pensatory damages and court costs. Neither Nationwide o r t o w n s h i p p o l i c e wanted to comment when contacted by the Associated Press. A rose by any oth- er name would smell as sweet.” – William Shake- speare, Romeo and Juliet. “Give it a name.” – from the film Things to do in Denver When You’re Dead. “No orator can top the one who can give good nicknames.” – Ralph Wal- do Emerson. One of the best parts about owning a boat is that you get to name it whatever you want. And who doesn’t re- member Tony Soprano on HBO’s The Sopranos taking his kids out on the Stugots? But when it’s time to name a boat that the pub- lic owns, it’s only right that the people would get to choose the name. And in Sydney, Austra- lia, officials recently asked the public to name a new ferry by popular vote. Those magnificent Aus- tralians chose “Ferry Mc- Ferryface.” Actually that’s not exactly what the Auss- ies wanted. They wanted to name the ferry Boaty McBoatface. But there was some confusion because that was the name chosen by British people in a simi- lar boat naming exercise a while back. Unlike the Ferry McFerryface now? Australians, the stuffy Brits eventually chickened out and named the boat something else. Minister for Trans- port and Infrastructure Andrew Constance ex- plained the situation. “Given Boaty was already taken by another vessel, we’ve gone with the next most popular name nom- inated by Sydneysiders,” Mr. Constance said. “Fer- ry McFerryface will be the harbor’s newest icon, and I hope it brings a smile to their faces.” This is the latest in- stallment in what’s be- come a global affair with Boaty McBoatface, Trainy McTrainface and Horsey McHorseface. Boaty McBoatface tops public vote to name new ship “ ★ ★ Yeah, it turns out Nationwide WAS NOT on my side. And to be honest I love police officers. I probably wouldn’t be suing if they let an old lady put her pants on. • Hostage Negotiations • Mobile Command • Mobile Precincts • Training Centers • DUI Testing