The king of addiction to over the top publicity, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, was congratulating himself this week for what he called a “major heroin distribution operation.”  Six people were arrested, two of them apparently leaders, of the “Bull Dog” heroin ring.  Their names are John Terry Sumpter Jr., Michael Lamont Brown, Luv Chanise Joe, Tikeem Judan Davis, Brynn Nyes Dunn Blalock, and Richard Neil Brown.  182 bags of heroin, some guns, and $1200 in cash were seized by the police.

Let’s set aside all of the problems with the War on Drugs and the dangers of heroin.  Let’s focus on the $1200.

They got $1200 for a “major heroin distribution operation?”  That seems a little bit light for what is being considered such a big deal.  But I’m no expert on the heroin business, so maybe that’s normal (I doubt it though).  My biggest issue with all of this is how they got it.

Sumpter was in possession three phones, a set of keys and $20; and Richard Neil Brown was in possession of $277, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Blalock was in possession of a cell phone and $41; Davis was in possession of $20; and Joe was in possession of $60 and a cell phone.

The following items were recovered from a second-floor bedroom: $252, and various identification in Sumpter’s name found in a dresser drawer, and $540 found in a closet.

It’s not like they had the $1200 with the heroin in a safe.  The Upper Darby police went into the house and just took all the money they could find.  That’s nothing more than stealing.  They are pirates except they have it easier than traditional pirates because the vast majority of people accept the theft they commit.

But of course they don’t call it theft; they call it civil asset forfeiture.  And like any of the other nice and clean words and phrases the state comes up with, it’s a friendlier way of saying, “We’re doing something terrible.”