I wonder how the guy who owned the boat could lift the tarp and look inside to see the punk, but the cops have to send in a helicopter with high tech spying stuff to verify it, then spend 2 or 3 hours shooting at him and talking to him.

The cop at the P.C. dodged the obvious question; "Did the punk ever shoot at them from the boat?"

If the objective was to kill him,[and why shoot at him if it wasn't] why couldn't a cop walk up like the owner did, lift the tarp and pop him?
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He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.

- Albert Einstein.