Police Lure Scofflaws Into Their Lair With Promise Of Pre-Ozzy Tailgate

The police in Fargo, N.D., were trying to catch local residents who’d basically put their notices from the local authorities in their “to do” file, and as a result skipped out on paying fines, answering court summons, and paying child support. Seemingly at the end of their rope, they decided to throw a phony party for the scofflaws–without telling the invitees what the real purpose of said gathering was–before Ozzy Osbourne’s show the other night:

The approximately 40 people who answered letters of invitation turned up at The Venue at Playmakers for what they thought would be a festive party before the big concert at the Fargodome.

The Venue event was sponsored by PDL Productions – a bogus firm created by Paul D. Laney, the Cass County sheriff, to help catch scofflaws who ignored court summons and child support payments or failed to pay fines.

Instead of partying down, attendees were arrested on outstanding warrants. “It was more of a warrant party,” Laney said.

“Some actually thought it was pretty funny,” he added. Others were upset, with a couple who turned hostile. “I think they were upset with themselves for being had.”

It turned out security staff wearing PDL Productions T-shirts were deputy sheriffs, North Dakota probation and parole agents and members of the local drug enforcement task force.

The “I Crashed the Bash” T-shirts were emblazoned with a skull, in keeping with the season’s Halloween motif. Those who looked closely at the skull’s right eye socket could see the star of a sheriff’s badge.

“We didn’t really rub it in,” Laney said of the subtle clue.

If only the Trans-Siberian Orchestra were coming to Fargo this year; Laney could have thrown a heck of a Christmas bash, with all the deputy sheriffs dressed up as elves. And the arrest warrants could have been wrapped around lumps of coal!

Ozzy “Bash” was really a cop sting by invitation only [West Central Tribune]