Officers Spend Year Busting Ginseng Diggers (Don’t Cops Have Better Things to Do?!)

What’s worthy of a yearlong investigation involving 15 officers? Tracking down a serial killer? Busting a human trafficking ring? How about arresting ginseng diggers?

State officers in West Virginia proudly posed next to 190 pounds of the seized root, which is coveted in Asia for its purported healing qualities. Cops also came across $30,000 in cash, which was funneled into law enforcement coffers.

Eleven men were arrested for shoveling up out-of-season ginseng. First-time offenders face fines, and repeat offenders could spend up to six months behind bars.

In other West Virginia news, criminals wanted for child porn, sexual assault, and malicious wounding are still at large.

1 minute, 48 seconds.

Follow the show on Twitter (@DontCops), and submit your nominees for next month.

"Don't Cops Have Better Things to Do?" is written and directed by Ted Balaker (@tedbalaker). Produced and edited by Matt Edwards (@MattChrisEd). Music by audionautix.com and "The Contessa" is by Maurice and the Beejays (Magnatune Records).

Go to http://reason.com/reasontv/2014/10/17/dont-cops-october-2014
for links, downloadable versions, and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive notifications when new material goes live.

To watch previous episodes, go here.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBuns9Evn1w9-PyoZPkWT2YaMqDztT1ui