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Indybay Feature

Cops break into Long Haul infoshop in Berkeley Wed morning 8/27

by ACAB
As of 10:30am, 8/27/08, six or seven cops have broken into the Long Haul infoshop in Berkeley claiming they have a search warrant.
As of 10:30am, 8/27/08, six or seven cops have broken into the Long Haul infoshop in Berkeley claiming they have a search warrant.
§More info
by ACAB
Reports coming in say the cops include UC Berkeley police and the FBI. They are refusing to show the search warrant. They're cutting open the locks of cabinets inside with bolt cutters.
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by cp
I moved away. Is the marijuana dispensary still there? While they are very much in solidarity with the dispensary (naturally, by hosting or collaborating with them), I've discussed with some workers how it ultimately depresses the effectiveness of the infoshop somewhat.
When my friend first moved to Berkeley and went by the Long Haul to check it out, he went during daytime hours and asked to look at the pamphlets. The dispensary people have to send regular people away, and they even offered him a dollar to go use the bathroom at the bar across the street rather than being able to use the one in the kitchen.
This can give regular neighbors or new people the impression of a special, arrogant club at the Long Haul, because they don't understand the dispensary (if indeed, the dispensary is still there).
On the other hand, I don't know how the Infoshop pays its bills really.
It is a lot nicer than anything I have in my current city or many places I've visited.
by defg
Did ya'll ever get a copy of the search warrant? Isn't it a crime for them not to give a copy? Hope ya'll have a lawyer and supporters on hand. What all did they take?
by ACAB
They're still in there right now and people are being asked to come to Long Haul and put pressure on the cops to show the search warrant. I was just there and when the person videotaping asked about the search warrant again, the UC cop said "We'll give it to you when we leave." He said the agency that issued the warrant was the UC police.
by cp
By the way, sorry for the implications of the dispensary comment above. If the UC Police are there, it is pretty clear it's not a marijuana raid. So I'll leave that as a general observation. Was Food not Bombs getting out of hand in their kitchen?
by rebecca
It is ILLEGAL to not show the warrant! Whoever is videotaping should go make copies of the police saying they'll 'show the warrant' after they leave (before the police take the video tape). They're probably rush making a warrant now... Someone should go to the UC police desk and ask to see the warrant--if it is real, they should have made a copy and they should show it... they have no warrant. even if they do, they must show it to Long Haul owners!



by videographer
here is a video of them ceasing property
by 454545
The "video" did not post properly. Please try again.
by Um?
Are the cops saying anything? Are people asking for badge numbers and all that? Does anyone know what made up reason they are there for?
by enola d!
I am so sorry that I cannot be there right now to show my support. The Long Haul is a very important resource, full of amazing people with fantastic ideas. I miss it there already!

How can this be happening? And what can be done about it?..

Stay strong, Long Haul, you will make it through this.

If you live in the bay area, please stop by.
by LH volunteer
1. No, the marijuana dispensary has not been there for about five months now.

2. The landtrust that officially owns the property was contacted for a key; when asked for a reason it was not given and "authorities" entered through the rear door.

3. Each computer was seized, including the broken ones, including the Slingshot computers. A new issue of Slingshot was being worked on.

4. Each office (EBPS, Cycles of Change, Needle Exchange) had its door either crowbar-ed open or bolt cutters were used to cut the combo locks. Another volunteer asked to see a search warrant and offered to open locks if shown the warrant. A warrant was not shown and nobody was allowed inside while the search was being conducted.

5. Once the police began removing computers, the same volunteer was given a copy of the warrant, an affadavit, a "Notice of Service" (which had not been served until 11:53am, mind you, when the search was done), and a detailed list of items seized. The warrant claimed that anything was taken that could be evidence to prove someperson had committed a felony, or could potentially be used to commit a felony.
by doot
hmm. That is a expensive hardware loss, even if the computers are old. Their website with Slingshot archives is up, so the server couldn't have been on-site. Do the police want their browser caches? I thought they could do that centrally these days, via the AT&T node. This is why online pedophiles use proxy servers.
At the same time, hopefully they back up work frequently on external drives? It seems like the hourly work on projects could be a potential big loss. It might be feasible to put all of a working issue on one or two CDs, because they aren't exactly doing intensive video production or making large geographic information systems files in there.
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