24 Armed Cops and a Military Truck Dispatched to Take Money from Old Man

[Lucille]

http://reason.com/blog/2014/10/27/24...litary-truck-d

How many cops does it take to collect a civil judgment from a 75-year-old man? The town of Stettin, Wisconsin evidently believed the answer was 24—and an armored military vehicle for good measure.

The full might of the Stettin police force was dispatched to seize $80,000 from the elderly Roger Hoeppner, who restores antique trucks and old pallets on his 20 acres of property. Hoeppner originally got himself in trouble with the town because his junk collection violated certain zoning and sign ordinances. After years of legal disputes, a judge ruled that he would have to pay $80,000 in fines and attorney's fees for the town.

According to the Journal Sentinel:

Marathon County officials aren't apologizing for their tactics. Sheriff's Capt. Greg Bean said officials expected to have to seize and remove tractors and wooden pallets to pay the judgment — hence the cadre of deputies. He also said what while Hoeppner was never considered dangerous, he was known to be argumentative.

Bean said deputies had to handcuff Hoeppner because he was not following all their instructions, but did eventually agree to pay the $80,000 judgment after a visit to a bank — accompanied by deputies.

Bean also said the armored truck was summoned only after Hoeppner initially refused to come out of his house. Once the truck appeared, so did Hoeppner.

"I've been involved in about five standoff situations where, as soon as the MARV showed up, the person gives up," saving time, money and increasing safety, Bean said.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

You heard it here first: A small-town cop thinks an armored vehicle is a necessity in order to remove harmless old men from their homes and confiscate their property.

Hoeppner, on the other hand, said the scene was frightening and cost his wife a trip to the hospital:

He described deputies with guns drawn walking around his garage.

Asked if he was, as the sheriff's captain described him, argumentative, Hoeppner admitted he was probably "hostile," though not threatening when confronted with a writ.

"The $86,000 figure is enough to shock most men," he said. "And they wanted it now, today." He said the town later agreed to $6,000 less because it wouldn't have to pay for hauling away his other equipment to sell.

Hoeppner estimates that, in all, his battle with the town has cost him about $200,000, a retirement fund he "worked very hard to accumulate." In addition, he said, his arrest the day the armored truck appeared upset his wife so much, he had to take her to a hospital for a few hours.

[Spikender]

The Government will take their slice of your very tiny pie and they will send armed thugs to collect if need be. If you're an old man, that only makes it that much easier. Your body and will is weak after fighting to keep your hard earned property, and you will be ripe for the pickin'.

This story makes me $#@!in' pissed.

[tod evans]

Wisconsin!

Armored vehicle helps collect civil judgment in small town

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wiscons...280427872.html





When officials in the tiny Town of Stettin in Marathon County went to collect a civil judgment from 75-year-old Roger Hoeppner this month, they sent 24 armed officers.

And an armored military vehicle.

Among other issues, the recent unrest in Ferguson, Mo., focused attention on the growing militarization of local law enforcement, particularly the use by even very small police departments of surplus armored military vehicles.

Marathon County sheriff's officials aren't apologizing for their tactics. Sheriff's Capt. Greg Bean said officials expected to have to seize and remove tractors and wooden pallets to pay the judgment — hence the cadre of deputies. He also said what while Hoeppner was never considered dangerous, he was known to be argumentative.

Hoeppner said when he noticed deputies outside his house, he called his attorney, Ryan Lister of Wausau. Lister said he quickly left for Hoeppner's house but was stopped by a roadblock that was kept up until after his client had been taken away in handcuffs. "Rather than provide Mr. Hoeppner or his counsel notice...and attempt to collect without spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on the military-style maneuvers, the town unilaterally decided to enforce its civil judgment" with a show of force, Lister said.

Bean said deputies had to handcuff Hoeppner because he was not following all their instructions, but did eventually agree to pay the $80,000 judgment after a visit to a bank — accompanied by deputies.

Bean also said the armored truck was summoned only after Hoeppner initially refused to come out of his house. Once the truck appeared, so did Hoeppner.

"I've been involved in about five standoff situations where, as soon as the MARV showed up, the person gives up," saving time, money and increasing safety, Bean said.

Madison's police recently made a similar endorsement after officers used one to carry out the safe arrest of a man who had fired at police from a window of his home.

MARV stands for Marathon County Response Vehicle, which his department obtained in 2011. It's the only one in the county and gets used 10 to 20 times a year, Bean said.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

Long-standing rift

Hoeppner has filed a notice of claim against the town, and is considering a federal civil rights lawsuit, according to a Madison attorney who represents him in another case about Hoeppner's right to speak at town meetings.

"It's a long-running, heavily litigated dispute over his use of his property," said the lawyer, Jeff Scott Olson. "They're trying to collect in a very heavy-handed manner."

Hoeppner owns about 20 acres along Packer Drive, which runs nearly parallel with Highway 29 west of Wausau, where he restores antique tractors and runs a pallet repair business. The latter at times featured giant piles of the wooden pallets visible from Packer Drive.

In 2008, the town sued Hoeppner over claimed violations of ordinances about zoning, signs, rubbish and vehicles. About a year later, the two sides settled; Hoeppner was supposed to clean up his property, and the town was supposed to open discussions about its zoning.

The town felt Hoeppner had not complied, and it brought a motion for contempt and enforcement. In September 2010, a judge ordered Hoeppner to remove certain items from his land.

The following May, the judge found Hoeppner had still not complied and authorized the town to seize assets. In the summer of 2011, the town hauled away several tractors, pallets, equipment and other items and auctioned them off for "pennies on the dollar," according to Lister.

But the dispute wasn't over. In April 2013, the judge entered a final judgment that imposed a $500-a-day fine against Hoeppner for not adhering to the original May 2011 order, and granting the town's legal fees.

Hoeppner appealed, but lost in a March ruling. So by Oct. 2, he owed the town about $80,000, according to court records, and the Town of Stettin obtained a writ of execution to collect — without notice to Hoeppner or his attorneys, they say.

Threats alleged

Town Chairman Matt Wasmundt said neither he nor other town officials and their attorneys could comment about Hoeppner or the serving of the writ, citing pending litigation and "threats."

Hoeppner, retired from a job at a paper factory, and Lister deny Hoeppner ever engaged in threats of any kind against Wasmundt or other town officials.

In a federal civil rights suit, Hoeppner contends that Wasmundt infringed on his free speech rights by calling deputies to town board meetings where Hoeppner wished to address the board during public comment periods, and for later eliminating public comment entirely from meeting agendas.

Once, Hoeppner said, he was arrested by the deputies at Wasmundt's direction, only to later be released without charge.

Town called unfair

In an interview, he said he wanted to address what he felt was the town's unfair focus on his property, when there are dozens of others arguably in violation of the town's zoning, which is all agricultural-residential.

He said he felt Wasmundt has a "vendetta" against him and a "my way or the highway" style of running the town.

He described deputies with guns drawn walking around his garage.

Asked if he was, as the sheriff's captain described him, argumentative, Hoeppner admitted he was probably "hostile," though not threatening when confronted with a writ.

"The $86,000 figure is enough to shock most men," he said. "And they wanted it now, today." He said the town later agreed to $6,000 less because it wouldn't have to pay for hauling away his other equipment to sell.

Hoeppner estimates that, in all, his battle with the town has cost him about $200,000, a retirement fund he "worked very hard to accumulate." In addition, he said, his arrest the day the armored truck appeared upset his wife so much, he had to take her to a hospital for a few hours.

[Spikender]

Never mind, now that I see a picture of these hardened criminals, the response seems absolutely necessary.

[tod evans]

It makes no sense to fight them in their courts, the game is rigged..........

[presence]

Guy needs a $200,000 gofundme

[phill4paul]

But, but, he was KNOWN to be argumentative. I'd hate to see how it would of turned out if there hadn't been such a police presence. He may have thrown an "F" bomb!

[LibForestPaul]

The Government will take their slice of your very tiny pie and they will send armed thugs to collect if need be. If you're an old man, that only makes it that much easier. Your body and will is weak after fighting to keep your hard earned property, and you will be ripe for the pickin'.

This story makes me $#@!in' pissed.

And they don't need your pie. They can make hundreds of thousands from thin air.

[Occam's Banana]

Marathon County officials aren't apologizing for their tactics. Sheriff's Capt. Greg Bean said officials expected to have to seize and remove tractors and wooden pallets to pay the judgment — hence the cadre of deputies. He also said what while Hoeppner was never considered dangerous, he was known to be argumentative.

To goons like Bean, being "argumentative" is probably even worse than being "dangerous."
(Someone merely being "dangerous" doesn't necessarily represent a challenge to your authoritah ...)

Bean said deputies had to handcuff Hoeppner because he was not following all their instructions, but did eventually agree to pay the $80,000 judgment after a visit to a bank — accompanied by deputies.

Bean also said the armored truck was summoned only after Hoeppner initially refused to come out of his house. Once the truck appeared, so did Hoeppner.

You heard it here first: A small-town cop thinks an armored vehicle is a necessity in order to remove harmless old men from their homes and confiscate their property.

So ... the government can't even engage in or produce crime efficiently (after all, the Mafia doesn't need to use armored trucks - or frog-march people to the bank in handcuffs - in order to successfully extort "protection" money from their victims). SMDH ...

[satchelmcqueen]

this is $#@!ing insane. god damned cops and judges today.

[phill4paul]

this is $#@!ing insane. god damned cops and judges today.

Whatcha gonna do? I know what I'm going to do if it its close to home. If I were worth a salt and without obligations I might just...................

[HVACTech]

Whatcha gonna do? I know what I'm going to do if it its close to home. If I were worth a salt and without obligations I might just...................

Something, something, something...Whatever my rage for the day.

somehow... this strikes me as odd.

[Spikender]

And they don't need your pie. They can make hundreds of thousands from thin air.

Still not enough to sate the beast's hunger. There is nothing it won't do to feed itself, even eating its own is not off limits.

[Anti Federalist]

Armored vehicle helps collect civil judgment in small town

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wiscons...280427872.html



When officials in the tiny Town of Stettin in Marathon County went to collect a civil judgment from 75-year-old Roger Hoeppner this month, they sent 24 armed officers.

And an armored military vehicle.

Among other issues, the recent unrest in Ferguson, Mo., focused attention on the growing militarization of local law enforcement, particularly the use by even very small police departments of surplus armored military vehicles.

Marathon County sheriff's officials aren't apologizing for their tactics. Sheriff's Capt. Greg Bean said officials expected to have to seize and remove tractors and wooden pallets to pay the judgment — hence the cadre of deputies. He also said what while Hoeppner was never considered dangerous, he was known to be argumentative.

Hoeppner said when he noticed deputies outside his house, he called his attorney, Ryan Lister of Wausau. Lister said he quickly left for Hoeppner's house but was stopped by a roadblock that was kept up until after his client had been taken away in handcuffs. "Rather than provide Mr. Hoeppner or his counsel notice...and attempt to collect without spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on the military-style maneuvers, the town unilaterally decided to enforce its civil judgment" with a show of force, Lister said.

Bean said deputies had to handcuff Hoeppner because he was not following all their instructions, but did eventually agree to pay the $80,000 judgment after a visit to a bank — accompanied by deputies.

Bean also said the armored truck was summoned only after Hoeppner initially refused to come out of his house. Once the truck appeared, so did Hoeppner.

"I've been involved in about five standoff situations where, as soon as the MARV showed up, the person gives up," saving time, money and increasing safety, Bean said.

Madison's police recently made a similar endorsement after officers used one to carry out the safe arrest of a man who had fired at police from a window of his home.

MARV stands for Marathon County Response Vehicle, which his department obtained in 2011. It's the only one in the county and gets used 10 to 20 times a year, Bean said.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

[Anti Federalist]

The hardened criminals.

[coastie]

Hmm. I recall reading somewhere very recently that these agencies are required to use these vehicles they obtained(through DHS grants/funding) a certain amount - or they lose them.

Thugs gonna thug, or they can't thug anymore.

[JK/SEA]

The hardened criminals.

not so tuff anymore eh gramps?...and wipe that frown off your face....you too granny.

[GunnyFreedom]

[aGameOfThrones]

Hey,

He also said what while Hoeppner was never considered dangerous, he was known to be argumentative.

[tod evans]

If the residents of this town don't grab the tar bucket and get busy they deserve what they've got coming......

[TheTexan]

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

I can see why. Without a bearcat and 20 swat team members outside your door, a person may feel compelled to be all "this isnt your money", "this is illegal", "you have no right to do this", blah blah blah.

But with a bearcat, all you hear them say is "yes sir please just dont hurt me sir". Ah, the sound of sweet, sweet, compliance.

[Anti Federalist]

He also said what while Hoeppner was never considered dangerous, he was known to be argumentative.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now," Bean said.

[TheTexan]

You've got to hand it to them too, their armored assault team safety record has improved significantly since Waco.

[Dr.3D]

For a minute reading this thread, I thought I was experiencing déjà vu, I then did a search and found the following.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...y-from-Old-Man

[CCTelander]

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[Anti Federalist]

For a minute reading this thread, I thought I was experiencing déjà vu, I then did a search and found the following.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...y-from-Old-Man

Damn it...beat to the punch again.

[Anti Federalist]

Nice move and merge.

[Mani]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stettin,_Wisconsin

Town of 2,554.


I just saw the map, it's in the middle of nowhere. I'm from WI, and I've driven through places like that....It's honestly the middle of nowhere...


How the hell does a town of 2,554 have an armored vehicle and 24 cops? (maybe they borrowed cops from several other neighborhoods? or Brought in state cops? How can a town in the middle of nowhere with probably no crime rate have 24 cops on duty?)


A town like that shouldn't even need a PD.





And what was his crime again?!?!??!?! Forget about his age and his manners...what exactly was his crime???????


The powers at be felt he had too much junk on the lawn...


Remember that next time you think you "own" property. He didn't forget to pay a tax bill...It's he didn't keep his property in the manner the state felt was appropriate...so he had storm troopers marching on his property guns drawn and dragged out in handcuffs....Coz he didn't keep his property clean to their standards...


Freedom.

[Anti Federalist]

Remember that next time you think you "own" property. He didn't forget to pay a tax bill...It's he didn't keep his property in the manner the state felt was appropriate...so he had storm troopers marching on his property guns drawn and dragged out in handcuffs....Coz he didn't keep his property clean to their standards...


Freedom.

On 20 acres...it's not like he was in some hoi-polloi subdivision.

Yeah, you don't own $#@!.

We are all just serfs and knaves, hopping and tripping about at our master's whim.

[Slave Mentality]

$#@! them all to hell.