Even a cop joins in the looting
Mike Perlstein and Brian Thevenot
Staff writers
Law enforcement efforts to contain the emergency left by Katrina slipped into chaos in parts of New Orleans Tuesday with some police officers and firefighters joining looters in picking stores clean.
At the Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas Street, an initial effort to hand out provisions to stranded citizens quickly disintegrated into mass looting. Authorities at the scene said bedlam erupted after the giveaway was announced over the radio.
While many people carried out food and essential supplies, others cleared out jewelry racks and carted out computers, TVs and appliances on handtrucks.
Some officers joined in taking whatever they could, including one New Orleans cop who loaded a shopping cart with a compact computer and a 27-inch flat screen television.
Officers claimed there was nothing they could do to contain the anarchy, saying their radio communications have broken down and they had no direction from commanders.
We dont have enough cops to stop it, an officer said. A mass riot would break out if you tried.
Inside the store, the scene alternated between celebration and frightening bedlam. A shirtless man straddled a broken jewelry case, yelling, Free samples, free samples over here.
Another man rolled a mechanized pallet, stacked six feet high with cases of vodka and whiskey. Perched atop the stack was a bewildered toddler.
Throughout the store and parking lot, looters pushed carts and loaded trucks and vans alongside officers. One man said police directed him to Wal-Mart from Roberts Grocery, where a similar scene was taking place. A crowd in the electronics section said one officer broke the glass DVD case so people wouldnt cut themselves.
The police got all the best stuff. Theyre crookeder than us, one man said.
Most officers, though, simply stood by powerless against the tide of law breakers.
One veteran officer said, Its like this everywhere in the city. This tiny number of cops cant do anything about this. Its wide open.
At least one officer tried futilely to control a looter through shame.
When they say take what you need, that doesnt mean an f-ing TV, the officer shouted to a looter. This is a hurricane, not a free-for-all.
Sandra Smith of Baton Rouge walked through the parking lot with a 12-pack of Bud Light under each arm. I came down here to get my daughters, she said, but I cant find them.
The scene turned so chaotic at times that entrances were blocked by the press of people and shopping carts and traffic jams sprouted on surrounding streets.
Some groups organized themselves into assembly lines to more efficiently cart off goods.
Toni Williams, 25, packed her trunk with essential supplies, such as food and water, but said mass looting disgusted and frightened her.
I didnt feel safe. Some people are going overboard, she said.
Inside the store, one woman was stocking up on make-up. She said she took comfort in watching police load up their own carts.
It must be legal, she said. The police are here taking stuff, too.
Mike Perlstein and Brian Thevenot
Staff writers
Law enforcement efforts to contain the emergency left by Katrina slipped into chaos in parts of New Orleans Tuesday with some police officers and firefighters joining looters in picking stores clean.
At the Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas Street, an initial effort to hand out provisions to stranded citizens quickly disintegrated into mass looting. Authorities at the scene said bedlam erupted after the giveaway was announced over the radio.
While many people carried out food and essential supplies, others cleared out jewelry racks and carted out computers, TVs and appliances on handtrucks.
Some officers joined in taking whatever they could, including one New Orleans cop who loaded a shopping cart with a compact computer and a 27-inch flat screen television.
Officers claimed there was nothing they could do to contain the anarchy, saying their radio communications have broken down and they had no direction from commanders.
We dont have enough cops to stop it, an officer said. A mass riot would break out if you tried.
Inside the store, the scene alternated between celebration and frightening bedlam. A shirtless man straddled a broken jewelry case, yelling, Free samples, free samples over here.
Another man rolled a mechanized pallet, stacked six feet high with cases of vodka and whiskey. Perched atop the stack was a bewildered toddler.
Throughout the store and parking lot, looters pushed carts and loaded trucks and vans alongside officers. One man said police directed him to Wal-Mart from Roberts Grocery, where a similar scene was taking place. A crowd in the electronics section said one officer broke the glass DVD case so people wouldnt cut themselves.
The police got all the best stuff. Theyre crookeder than us, one man said.
Most officers, though, simply stood by powerless against the tide of law breakers.
One veteran officer said, Its like this everywhere in the city. This tiny number of cops cant do anything about this. Its wide open.
At least one officer tried futilely to control a looter through shame.
When they say take what you need, that doesnt mean an f-ing TV, the officer shouted to a looter. This is a hurricane, not a free-for-all.
Sandra Smith of Baton Rouge walked through the parking lot with a 12-pack of Bud Light under each arm. I came down here to get my daughters, she said, but I cant find them.
The scene turned so chaotic at times that entrances were blocked by the press of people and shopping carts and traffic jams sprouted on surrounding streets.
Some groups organized themselves into assembly lines to more efficiently cart off goods.
Toni Williams, 25, packed her trunk with essential supplies, such as food and water, but said mass looting disgusted and frightened her.
I didnt feel safe. Some people are going overboard, she said.
Inside the store, one woman was stocking up on make-up. She said she took comfort in watching police load up their own carts.
It must be legal, she said. The police are here taking stuff, too.
Vastaukset 6
Vanhimmat
Amerikkalaisuutta kestää vain niin kauan kun kaikki on hyvin, mutta jos jotain tapahtuu niin tuloksena on avoin sota....ihmiset jengiintyvät omiin etnisiin klikkeihinsä ja kaikki taantuu heimosodan tasolle.....ihmisten välinen oikea lojaalisuus ja solidariteetti on tasan pyöreä nolla !!
itseään täynnä ketkään muut ei ole mitään
Mistäs oot kopsannu?
Poliisit keräs ruokatavaroita talteen jotta voisivat jakaa niitä sit tarvitseville? Eikös?
Oisko poliisien pitäny jäädä ilman? Tai ampua ne rosvot? Joka tapauksessahan ne tavarat ois tuhoutuneet. Olihan se hyvä, että joku pelasti nekin tavarat???
Ihan normaaliahan tuo on. Samanlaista se toiminta olis täälläkin, jos vastaavanlainen katastrofi tulisi. Naiivia ja sinisilmäistä edes kuvitella toisin!
Ajattelumalli on selvä, tavarat jää kuitenkin veden alle, pelastetaan mitä vielä voidaan, kukaan ei ole kassalla, so what...kumpi on parempi, jättää elinarvikkeet sinne veden alle, vai yrittää saada niitä vielä käyttöön, vaikka ilman maksuakin?
Uutisissa näytettiin eilen, kuinka noin 10 negroidi - rodun edustajaa tyhjensivät kauppaa. Kyllä ne negroidit osaavat. Roskasakkia sanon minä.