Drug cops caught playing Wii during raid

It's not easy being a drug cop.

You're constantly dealing with characters who can be less savory than mud pie. And then you discover that some of these people have vast amounts of money.

Who amongst us would not, therefore, in the midst of a raid on a suspected drug dealer's house, avail himself of the suspect's loot? Consider, for instance, the suspect's Wii.

In some highly entertaining footage from WFLA Tampa, cops appear to have been caught red-fingered by a security camera they missed in the home of Michael Difalco, an alleged drug dealer who was already in custody.

The footage shows these Polk County officers getting frightfully excited. One chap, on finding what he claims to be a bag of meth, performs a celebration that might normally only be seen in a late night bar after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have actually won a game.

However, the real joy seems to have been delivered by a little Wii bowling, conveniently displayed on Difalco's rather expansive television.

Surely you can see the temptation.

(Credit: CC Toasty Ken/Flickr)

One male officer is so consumed with glii after he knocks down some virtual pins that he looks like Kevin James celebrating the fact that he's met a girl who finds him attractive. It could not be described as either rhythmic or aesthetically appealing.

One lady drugbuster is cataloging evidence, but is overcome by her need to Wii several times.

Naturally, this footage has caused a few people to be somewhat bowled over. Defense attorney Rick Escobar, for example, seems to believe that the officers violated the terms of the search warrant.

However, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, while acknowledging that the bowling was not good behavior, told WFLA: "We executed that search warrant appropriately from a legal sense."

You might be wondering how it is that the officers didn't realize they might be being filmed. Well, apparently, Difalco had a security camera that looked like a speaker. It was hooked up to a computer.

And the police didn't, for some peculiar, no doubt un-Wii-related reason, seize the computer.

One can hardly wait for the case to come to trial. Drugbusters by 20 is my betting line.

[T_Tran]

What's wrong with a little exercise and conditioning for future drug busts? That wii probably was bought with drug money anyways so its' "fair game." No pun intended....

[biffhenerson]

Similar problems have surfaced in Minneapolis with their drug task force. There is lots of missing money and merchandise. My suspicion is that ex-druggies make a plea bargain to help out and become members of the task force. We then forget that they are actually criminals and put them in a position where they have greater opportunity to snatch drugs, money, cars, and etc. all under the protective cover of the police shield.

[myles taylor]

I could be wrong here, but I don't believe that anyone convicted of a felony can be in a police force, regardless of how they plea-bargained it out. I seriously doubt these are ex-druggies. More likely just corrupt police officers. It's been known to happen again and again. The difference between a cop and a criminal are what's beneath the uniform, not the uniform itself.

[ewsachse]

Do you know anything about plea bargains?

If they plead it down to a misdemeanor, then they were not convicted of a felony, only a misdemeanor.

[Darkwiz666]

@ewsanche: That's not the point here...the point is no one convicted of drug trafficking will ever be allowed to join a police task force...or even the police force for that matter

What you trying to think is that there are no such things as corrupt police...you better wake up before you get pulled over and beat to the ground because they thought your were the wrong guy and plant drugs on you...

[myles taylor]

That's kind of funny. I technically don't see anything wrong with it, but it's the type of thing that could easily be taken too far.

[docster87]

So it is okay for myself to do some Wii bowling while on the work clock? I'm sure my employer would say otherwise. To me that is the point. Rather than doing their jobs in a timely and professional manner - they are playing games...

[dowell100]

There is no law against taking a break to wii, even at work.

Best to smile about this incident, then just forget it. Nothing important happened.

[Static-X-Machina]

This kinda stuff makes me laugh till I CRY!
I saw that video on CNN, and it is, HILARIOUS!
Hey I don't much care if they go wii bowling or not! Just so long as they don't do it in excess and they follow all other formal protocols first.
Why, if you are keeping drugs in your house, you should expect the cops to have some fun at your expense.
The very stupid idea of keeping drugs in your house and ASKING for the cops to come is really no fault of anyones save for your own.

Maybe I'm missing the bigger point. Maybe I'm not meant to understand.

Oh well, doesn't really matter.
This is still hilarious!

[robber2112]

It just goes to show you, people will be people..They should be charged with breaking and entering, by not doing their jobs. they are just as corrupt as the Midlothian, Texas police department in which the captains cover for their officers, even lying...God is watching.....

[PixP]

Just another law breaker trying to take the focus off their illegal activities. Next bust please.

[Police_States_of_America]

cops have way too much power
the position of a police officer attracts power hungry bullies
cops are usually caught committing crimes by sheer luck, such as in this instance

how much are they REALLY getting away with?
if they get caught breaking law on duty do they get any serious repercussions or paid leave?

[man_w_balls]

to answer your last question, Google the phrase "professional courtesy"

all signs point to "NO"
most cops are dirty.

[cnetpre]

Aren't we all entitled to at least 15 min break from our occupations? Sitting on their ass or playing Wii during break doesn't seem to be anything to be seriously concerned about.

[Dalkorian]

"One lady drugbuster is cataloging evidence, but is overcome by her need to Wii several times."

I bet she Wii'd in the living room on the suspect's rather expensive carpeting too. How nasty.
:-D

[greenqueen421]

Like the article said, the police documented nothing about playing a Wii. We can't discredit the drug dealer's right to a constitutional search of his property. Just because you obtained a warrant doesn't give you the right to play with his toys. You are there for a professional reason. Those are the men and women that represent us. I don't think they are taking their job very seriously. A tweaker outsmarted them with a small camera. Yes, this can happen to the best of us and yes, those tweakers are sneaky sometimes. It struck me as a corrupt operation. We as the public only see clips but I didn't see much action after they found the bag of meth. It was like they found what they were looking for, all done!

[Kiljoy616]

So they did the raid, then one guy throws a wii ball and puts down some pins, sound good to me, looks more like the cop was letting out steam that none was dead, or that the meth lab did not blow up in their face which is the scarier part of meth labs.

Haha, I am no cop but I would have been hard pressed not to throw a ball or two and say strike sucker.