law enforcement officials Cuffed Me for promoting My own Mac

Joshua Taylor listed his old MacBook on Craigslist for more money. However, after meeting a potential buyer at an espresso store, the 25-year-vintage changed into detained by way of officials—two wearing tactical tools and a 3rd in plainclothes—from the Atlanta Police department. Taylor might soon research he changed into the goal of a mysterious and botched sting operation Alie Nation. The architecture student is the son of Goldie Taylor, a political commentator and editor-at-massive for The Daily Beast. On Monday, Taylor launched an announcement saying police in no way diagnosed themselves, acted without likely cause, enacted a warrantless search, and used a decoy to trap her son to Caribou coffee in the Buckhead business district.

I work for a fixed design agency and became quick on cash. My process is supposed to be incredibly busy for the summer, but I haven’t been full-time. My dad had given me his more computer, so I determined to promote mine: a 14-inch, 2012 MacBook seasoned. At the time, it was the very best model and I used it for structure school. I’ve posted things on Craigslist earlier than and hadn’t had any troubles. This changed into probably my fifth or 6th time. I’ve indexed iPods or antique gaming structures and never had any problems. this is the most luxurious item I’ve ever bought. The ad said “$1,000 or high-quality offer.”

It became very primary, with pics, and I stated you’d want an installation disk to apply the laptop. I got three initial responses. The direct man or woman who responded presented $900. however, once I supplied the computer’s serial wide variety, the buyer determined out it didn’t meet their specs.

After that fell thru, I was given an electronic mail from a “Derek Charleston.” He presented $950. We started talking approximately meeting up, and the whole process never appeared suspicious in any respect. But he became lifeless set on meeting Thursday of closing week and stated it turned into paintings. I wager it became how “they” had been putting things up. They needed that time. I was to be had Sunday, Monday, each day. I saved asking him, “Are you to be had nowadays? Are you round?” Then I wouldn’t get a reaction till eight or nine hours later.

He would preserve reiterating that he changed into to be had Thursday.

We met at a Caribou espresso at 2 p.m. He turned into in his early to mid-Nineteen Thirties, with lengthy brown hair past his shoulders. He appeared like Chris Ferguson, the poker participant, a Cowboy-looking guy. He had light facial hair and sunshades on. He was sitting on the patio outdoor there and didn’t have espresso. It becomes me, him, and probable six to seven different businesses of human beings. after I sat down, Derek said he worked with computer systems however didn’t mention any specifics. Not anything seemed weird in any respect.

I sat throughout from him, pulled out the pc and he opened it up.

I’ve already told each person they needed an installation disk because I moved all the statistics to my dad’s pc, and the laptop’s running machine was long past. The most detailed data would be the manufacturing facility records about the computer. But instead of using an install disk, he connected a portable authoritarian power. He stated it would take a pair mins, so we started talking and that I confirmed him the MacBook’s case, the extension twine, and the keyboard cowl. I just wanted to make sure he had the entirety.

We’re just sitting there, and I’m approached from at the back of through an officer, or I think it’s an officer. He immediately orders, “placed your hands at the back of your lower back! put your arms in the back of your back!” and he has something pressed into my lower back. I look over my shoulder and can see a vast yellow Taser.