About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Instead of FT (Fire Trachta), Should It Be AT (Arrest Trachta)?

In response to questioning from defense attorneys during yesterday's Stickergate trial, Officer Dan Troxell was adamant that placing a 1 1/2" sticker anywhere is malicious mischief. Littering, too. In response to questioning by Attorney Minotti (the reporter confused Att'y Asteak and Att'y Minotti), this exchange is quoted in The Express Times.
Asteak asked Troxell if the stickers had said "Praise Trachta" or "Trachta for President," would he still have filed charges.

"Yes, it's littering," Troxell said. "It's a crime."
Well, then, it's rime for Officer Troxell to arrest Nazareth Police Chief Cupcake Trachta for malicious mischief or some other dastardly crime.

This blog has been supplied with a picture of the inside of the door to Chief Cupcake's Office. Above the doorknob is a black-and-white sticker saying, "I was ANTI-OBAMA before it was cool".

I guess its OK with Republican Mayor Carl Strye for a police chief to engage in some pretty blatant partisan activity inside the police station, so long as it is aimed at Democrats.

Aside from his use of public resources for political activity, it appears that Chief Cupcake is guilty of the very thing he perp-walked a trio of townies for in late June. By Troxell's standards, it has to be criminal mischief and littering.

There are other pics on the inside of the door of a man who increasingly appears to be a bully. I'll get into those later.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Free speech carries no responsibility. I like that the "boys" wore their Sunday best to the hearing.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You attack them for showing their respect for the court and dressing appropriate. Then you complain about the First Amendment. Perhaps you should live in another country. And incidentally, every right has corollary obligations. The right to speak includes the duty to listen, something you have not mastered.

Anonymous said...

I am all for free speech and despise when the police throw around their authority to intimidate the populace, BUT....

placing stickers on public and private property when you do not have permission to do so is trespassing, destruction of property at most, and littering at least.

Try using the "well, someone else was doing it too" defense next time you get a speeding ticket. See how that far it gets you.

Yeah, Trachta seems like a first class tool, but can anyone now just place stickers all over Nazareth without fear of ticketing or arrest?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Yes, if he or she is sending a political message. That's what the First Amendment says. Get used to it.

Anonymous said...

Fire Cupcake and the boozing Eric Schwab!!! I wonder if there is a Bar in the police station??

Anonymous said...

I agree.....the Naz PD is a joke.....to ARREST and CONSUME!!!

Anonymous said...

Clearly Trachta is a hypocrite....sadly this is one of his better traits....

Anonymous said...

Jim's balloon knot is so stretched out, he whistles when he turns sideways. It can be heard in West Easton.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am not allowing comments posted by trolls who are pursuing a personal vendetta against me instead of the story.

Anonymous said...

No, ther should be indictments hand down to clean up the Brown Hole of ReNue the valley as a Hole¿

redd
patent pending

Anonymous said...

Do you think Trachta, I mean cupcake has realized what hit him yesterday?

Think he's getting drunk in his man cave right now? Alone or with others?

Anonymous said...

Recently Morganelli vowed to prosecute perjury.

During the stickergate trial a police officer testified under oath that the charges were approved by specific District Attorney staff. Morganelli and the specific ADAs have now said they did not authorize charges.

So is their a perjury charge coming down the pipe or is that sort of thing just for the masses outside the castle walls?

Anonymous said...

@9:14
If that's true, it is serious.
Who would have thunk it? A cop that lies to prosecute and justify his actions. Unheard of!

Bernie O'Hare said...

9:14, I hear what Troxell said under oath and read what ADA Jim Augustine told The Morning Call. Their versions are definitely different. But that happens. Sometimes people remember things differently. Sometimes people misunderstand what is being said. Sometimes people are unclear. Even I would oppose prosecuting Troxell for perjury or false swearing on this basis.

Anonymous said...

ADA Jim Augustine who is also an Upper Nazareth Twp supervisor has on several occasions allowed himself to be manipulated by both Chief Trachta and Officer Troxell. I think the ride has reached it's final stop. You two no longer have a friend in the DA'S office. No more shady buy busts. No more pre-approved criminal charges. No more help with search warrants. Just plain no more anything! This is the beginning of the end for both Trachta and Troxell ' s police careers with the Nazareth police department.

Anonymous said...

Chief Trachta's claims that the stickers were littering or criminal mischief were obviously ridiculous and the judge's ruling was correct.

That being said, it's equally ridiculous to make any comparisons between the stickers which are outside and visible to the public, and pictures taped to his office door, which is obviously indoors.

Trachta's argument alone is silly enough without you having to make such leaps.

Anonymous said...

After serving quite a lengthy career in law enforcement, I've never once seen any of my administrator's doors, desks, walls, etc look like that. It looks like my little brother's bedroom door in the 80s. Just add an ACDC sticker. Wow. No wonder no one respects him or that borough pd.

Anonymous said...

We never had this problem when my friend's dad was acting Chief! Koch for Chief!

Anonymous said...

Thats how it works in lehighcounty and than upon getting there pension there is a hush law aggrement contract signing¿

redd
patent pendig

Anonymous said...

Free Speech Lives!!!

just not here

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:51. Your use of The Freedom of Speech comes with the caveat that others have the freedom to label you a fool for saying dumb things.

Keep that in mind.

Anonymous said...

anon 3:15.

Agree, fool!