ND sheriff's sting 12 minutes ago



FARGO, N.D. - Ozzy Osbourne wants an apology from the Cass County sheriff for staging a sting operation in the rocker's name without his permission.

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Osbourne claims his reputation was tarnished when Sheriff Paul Laney invited 500 people with outstanding warrants to a phony party at a Fargo nightclub before the rocker's concert with Rob Zombie at a nearby arena. More than 30 showed up and were arrested.

"Instead of holding a press conference to pat himself on the back, Sheriff Laney should be apologizing to me for using my name in connection with these arrests," Osbourne said in a statement.

"It is insulting to me and to my audience and it shows how lazy this particular sheriff is when it comes to doing his job," Osbourne said.

Laney said Friday that it's his job to arrest people with outstanding warrants.

"We meant no disrespect toward Mr. Osbourne or his show," Laney said. "What we did was a very creative law enforcement technique to lure individuals who had active criminal warrants to come to us."

He said mentioning Osbourne's name in the invitations was no different than a bar advertising a Super Bowl party by mentioning the teams playing in the game.

Laney said Monday's sting was done to let the community know his office was doing its best to serve about 3,000 outstanding warrants it must deal with.

"They get very creative in how they abscond from the law," the sheriff said of the wanted individuals. "We just got real creative in how we reeled them in," Laney said.

Not everyone is taking the sting personally, Laney said.

"Three people called to say, 'I got one of those letters. Since you're being so creative, I'm turning myself in. Give me a court date,'" Laney said.

Dog did this first, a few years ago. I remember watching it on TV :giggle He told them they won a house, or something, I think :thinking

I think the technique is great, but I agree with Ozzy...it makes him look like a big fat SQUARE which goes against his entire persona. Leave the Ozz out of it.

He said mentioning Osbourne's name in the invitations was no different than a bar advertising a Super Bowl party by mentioning the teams playing in the game.


Yes except do they normally arrest people at super bowl parties?

Should have told ozzy first. Bad press.

You know, if I was Ozzy I'd be pissed too...but I agree with this:

"What we did was a very creative law enforcement technique to lure individuals who had active criminal warrants to come to us."


I guess the whole thing just goes to show... 30 out of 500 criminals are pretty stupid. :rofl

And THIS:
"Three people called to say, 'I got one of those letters. Since you're being so creative, I'm turning myself in. Give me a court date,'" Laney said.

I find to be hysterical!! :hystericlaugh

They've been using this tactic in departments across the nation for many years. What surprises me (as with the "To Catch a Predator" series) is that people STILL fall for it.
I do, however, see Ozzy's point and agree that using a specific person's name without their permission is a bit fuzzy, at best.

:yes I agree with ozzy as well.

I do think it was a creative way to try to find these people. But I definitely don't think names should be used without permission.

they should've gotten ozzy's permission first. i'd be pissed too.

You know the technique is a good one, but not letting Ozzy know was downright rude.

I'd be asking for an apology aswell.

I totally agree with Ozzy. I'd be pissed too.