Pot Dealing Firefighter Gets Smoked Out in Sting

A firefighter on Staten Island was arrested Wednesday for allegedly selling $40 worth of weed to undercover cops who spotted his advertisement on Craigslist. During the transaction, 32-year-old Michael Seise, a three-year veteran of Ladder 82, also inexplicably hinted that he was a member of the FDNY, a police source tells the Daily News, adding, "This guy is an idiot. There's really not much else to it." After the arrest, police found traces of white powder believed to be cocaine in his Chrysler 300 luxury sedan. Seise has been suspended immediately, which is probably a good thing, because it must have been irritating to pull the firetruck over every time he got the munchies.

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By John Del Signore in News on October 17, 2008 9:26 AM

Comments [rss]

Jerky

>Something like this is shooting fish in a barrel - dumb enough to >post about 420, ski supplies, whatever on CL, then why shouldn't >cops make easy busts of morons?

Cops have *very* wide discretion to whom they bust and why. Last quote I heard, a simple "sting" operation cost around $20,000. I'm no economist, but I think the cost/benefit ratio in this case is not in the taxpayer's or society's favor. He busted someone for selling under $100 worth of a drug that is 1) unable to kill you 2) not physically addictive and 3) is so relatively benign that NY State has classified possession as a civil penalty, about as bad as a spedding ticket.

Who was he hurting? What was the detrimental cost to society? The only person who won was some cop who gained a bit more attention for doing something ENTIRELY USELESS in the large scheme of things.

NannyState

They might as well arrest everyone on Craigslist.

theevilone

Something like this is shooting fish in a barrel - dumb enough to post about 420, ski supplies, whatever on CL, then why shouldn't cops make easy busts of morons?

Plus, this dude is 32 and still lives with his parents. He should be arrested just for that.

dajamg

You'd be surprised to know how many cops, good or crooked, confiscate drugs and sell them (because they can't use it themselves, they get drug tested randomly) to make money.

Jerky

Does anyone really think its a good use of police time to set up a sting to buy $50 worth of weed???? Please, do something useful with our tax dollars, like perhaps, SOLVE SOME CRIMES. Posession under an ounce is not even a misdemeanor in New York State, give me a f*in break.

jnguy

Is this an indicator of how poorly the fire fighters are paid, or is this one guy looking to be cool. The Chrysler 300 says the latter.

Spirit of 76

"This guy is an idiot. There's really not much else to it."

Is that surprising? Mensa members generally don't apply to FDNY (or NYPD for that matter).

Steven

another dummy. seems like everyday there is another story about an idiot doing something stupid.

PKinNYC

the real question is this photo from the internet...or was it taken at the Gothamist office???

whantmoore

Not smart to sell drugs if you are a city employee, but for real the cops bust a guy for selling weed. When are the going to bust the guys who f up my 401K on wall street.

jibbly

I can't imagine how many countless fires have started with some stoner falling asleep with a lit joint in bed.

aveB4life

that's a nice nug

theevilone

They do actively bust CL. I spent time on a grand jury where a few of those cases came through. People are stuuuuuuuupid.

JenChungsBaby

Gimme that bud and that chick from the Cabana ad and I'll be a happy guy.

mrguy

sigh. why is marijuana still illegal?

WhereAmI

Well time to make up some new code words.

emilydickinson

@JenChung Really, the amount of people who post drugs for sale ads on CL is aburd. Do people really think the police don't know what '420' means? I was always curious if the police actively tracked down people from CL, and here is concrete evidence they do.