Better Call Saul | Police Break into Chuck's House (Michael McKean)

[@joeminier1736]

The facts that nobody other than jimmy has visited him during his illness and his neighbor calling the cops for simply stealing a newspaper shows he most likely wasn’t even well liked in his community.

[@Zinozad]

Hence why he killed himself. 8 millions dollars coming his way, illness beaten, and nobody will ever visit him again.

[@masterzombie161]

I mean there’s Howard but that’s only because Howard viewed him as father figure and mentor.

[@joeminier1736]

@@masterzombie161 so did Jimmy and look at how he treated both of them. If they actually saw him for who he was earlier nobody would have visited or helped him.

[@ganymedehedgehog371]

Why would he be? He’s a weirdo that has propane, ice, and food delivered by a guy in a beater car. All they know is the creep across the street stole the paper.

[@DrClock-il8ij]

I'd imagine the neighbors' property value is somewhat lowered by the insane dude next door who occasionally throws out electrodomestics outside and runs around in tinfoil

[@Movel0]

"and definitely no taser" Proceed to incinerate Chuck with a solar flare

[@nathanpierce7681]

this is the moment chuck mcgill became chuck mcgrilled

[@MegaMeco2]

“The law is sacred ! Except for when it benefits me like when I stole my neighbor’s paper”

[@DaScorpionSting]

Or concealing his mental illness from the insurance and face the consequences when they found out

[@Onmysheet]

He didn't steal it. He left money behind. That woman calling the police was such a lousy move.

[@epicclown4587]

@@Onmysheet I could steal your car and leave behind a large sum of cash. You may go ahead and buy a new car, doesn't change the fact I commited a crime by stealing your car.

[@Onmysheet]

@@epicclown4587 Taking somebody's car is a lot more serious than a newspaper. Bad comparison

[@epicclown4587]

@@Onmysheet I think my point still stands. Wether I steal a newspaper or a car, I deserve to get my ass reported even if I leave behind money

[@JustAnderw]

Something I noticed on arewatch is chuck's quotation of the law is what ended up causing the police to go looking into his house, which escalated from there. Chuck's unwillingness to admit to any wrongdoing worsened things for him, and hints at his future, holier than thou, attitude. If he had just been like "yeah my bad, here's the newspaper back" I doubt they would have escalated the call from there. Chuck was legally right in turning away the cops but he utterly failed too navigate the social situation, the opposite of jimmy in a lot of the show

[@kushalramakanth7922]

Yeah, but its been hinted many times that he isnt the best socially, especially in the dinner with rebecca and jimmy where he fails to make her laugh like Jimmy

[@Mari_Kross]

Those are goverment officials, not a girl on a speed date - you shouldn't even be requiered to "navigate socially" with them. They have knocked his door down without a warrant - that's the bottom line. And for that alone they should be scrubbing toilets at McDonald's

[@EGRJ]

@@Mari_Kross That's a very high-minded viewpoint, but down here in the real world, being an abrasive dick to a cop for no reason is generally a bad idea.

[@EGRJ]

@@Mari_Kross Turns out being a jerk to a cop is generally a bad idea, whether you're justified or not. As we saw in this very clip, it landed Chuck in the hospital. Also, the cops (incorrectly) thought they had probable cause, which would legally justify breaking in, by NM law.

[@summ.3433]

@@EGRJ Bad idea maybe, doesn't absolve the cops from being above the law. What they did regardless was a complete POS move by entering someones property without a warrant, not to mention tasering the damn guy without even asking them to show their hands. Actual cornball behavior.

[@masterzombie161]

Those cops should’ve been reported because even if they did have probable cause they entered someone’s property without a Warrant, and quickly tasered someone without even asking to put their hands up or something.

[@zagreus5773]

Yeah, they absolutely had no right to enter the house or taser him, Chuck should have sued their asses for millions.

[@lukekiely2450]

@@zagreus5773he would have if he wasn’t hiding his condition from the insurance company

[@sppj3140]

They had a witness see him commit a crime and run into the house

[@louilligm]

They first time I saw this scene I felt a little bad for chuck but after watching how everything unfolds I’m glad his ass got tazed.

[@EnycmaPie]

Chuck: Definitely no tasers. 3:20 Police: Immediately takes out tasers.

[@saintroddy]

I'm surprised Chuck didn't file any kind of complaint against these guys.

[@GeoStreber]

I think if he did, the bar association might sanction him for the newspaper theft.

[@megaboner690]

​@@GeoStreberNever thought of that but you're right. Always wondered why he didn't try and take them down. He'd have to admit wrongdoing, which he doesn't do

[@snnnaaaaaakeeeee4470]

That would bring trouble on himself as well

[@saintroddy]

The bar association is in his pocket, and he's not averse to using his contacts

[@Dubs22005]

why wasnt he reacting to the electricity right across from the door

[@ookami5329]

the door was a mental barrier

[@nich2632]

Because it’s not a real illness

[@algordo1997]

I'd say this is the way. But this, this ain't worth it given Chuck.

[@Instanence]

​@@nich2632you mean to tell me he wasn't allergic to electricity? And he simply couldn't cope with his brother succeeding, his wife leaving him and Howard separating from him? No, it's the electricity. It has to be

[@David-gj9qr]

Because he has a mental illness and not a physical one. He thinks his illness is physical but it's pure mental. Him not seeing electrical appliances doesn't cause him to react to it because he can't see it and therefore doesn't know its there

[@heartnet40]

"Officer I know I sound crazy but if you promise to come inside my house with no equipment whatsoever I'll let you inside my incredibly dark house filled with junk and shattered electronics! Please, if I explain the law back to you will it make any more sense?" Chuck's tendency to shove his smart-ass into any situation he's in is just about his worst tendency. It makes as bad as Walter White in this regard; the concept of someone intelligent making stupid decisions or not being able to "talk smarter" out of situations is just so alien to men like them.

[@Aemilius46]

Not even a comparison, Walt was a criminal, Chuck wasn't!

[@andrewdeluca7352]

​​@@Aemilius46I think when they said Chuck is as bad as Walt, they meant in regards to being an egotistical smart ass who thinks their intelligence give them a get out of jail free card to any situation. I really don't think he meant Chuck is as bad as the meth kingpin murder.

[@JmdMagic]

@@Aemilius46Then why were the police at his door? Chuck was running the biggest newspaper stealing ring in the Southwest.

[@saparapatepete]

@@Aemilius46 he became one when he stole the newspaper.....it's a really minor crime, but still technically a criminal

[@minerplayzgd5334]

Over a newspaper is crazy, like nowadays nobody cares if you take their newspaper cuz the internet has it all.

[@kushalramakanth7922]

Tbh, this is set in early 2000s, when most households did not have internet

[@Dannymart_88445]

​@kushalramakanth7922 that's bs. Internet was definitely already popular in the early 2000s

[@funfungerman8401]

ah yes cause everyone had access to the internet and all right? Tjhere are some people that dont have access to internet Big + if someone pays a subscription for a newspaper they show that they want it and pay it... so stealing it still nothing that can be ignored...

[@ciranopunalesvigliarolo3788]

Maybe he stole from the elderly

[@baussier134]

this episode is set in 2002/2003

[@raopsepol]

calling cops because of a dollar newspaper got stolen. in my country they simply laugh back at me. :D

[@Zinozad]

She's probably more paranoid about the person stealing her shit while ducted into space blankets than the actual newspapers. If I saw that scene, I'd definitely call the police, even if they just stole a candy bar.

[@joeminier1736]

@@Zinozad or could be she wasn’t fond of chuck probably also including his whole community considering nobody ever visted him besides jimmy. Nobody could stand his stuck up behavior.

[@Zinozad]

@@joeminier1736 That, too. Probably a mix of "wtf is this guy doing" and "not him again".

[@uberbosst]

it has more to do with who chuck was and how he did. Your neighbor stealing your newspaper is a thing. But the weirdo neighbor that never leaves the house stealing your newspaper while covering in a blanket and crouching like a goblin is a totally different thing.

[@DjVortex-w]

The cops cannot enter a home like this without a warrant. There are only extremely limited circumstances in which they can break into a house legally, and this did not fulfill any of those. Not by a long shot. A 100% clear violation of the 4th Amendment. And because of what? A stolen newspaper?

[@lordlossize]

id make the argument that the sabotaged electricity circuits and ridiculously copious amounts of flammable fluids alerted the police to a potential for criminal/terroristic intentions by the occupant. coupled with the theft of a newspaper - a media device typically filled with current political/socioeconomical climate news - and the description of a crazy person running around covered in conspiratorial-style aluminium foil cloak, you have the potential of a mentally ill bin laden wannabe. and with that comes the duty of care for the other occupants of the street.

[@sammycool4049]

Probable cause is a thing that exists, and although in this instance it is a bit shaky, it is reasonable for a normal person to assume that that amount of flammable material is not normal, and is cause for suspicion (what if he plans to burn evidence of a crime, or if he plans to commit arson? From the perspective of the officers, why else would he need that much fuel?). Also note that Chuck never outright explains his "condition", he merely asks them to turn off their electronics, meaning that the police here don't have any legal plausible/common explanations for what is going on, thus giving them probable cause to enter the house to investigate further. Given Chuck's actions and demeanor up to this point, I think it's safe to say the the officers acted on reasonable suspicion, and Chuck failed to alleviate that suspicion with any plausible answers, thus the police's actions in this scene are reasonable. They were there for a legal reason (to investigate reports of stolen property), they investigated the scene where they had reasonable suspicion that stolen objects were being stored, they saw something suspicious through an open window, and because Chuck had been acting in an overly defensive and suspicious way (he had provided no reasonable answers/explanations in any way), they forced their way inside. Also note that Chuck was buttoned up with his space blanket, the officers don't know who he is or what he might be hiding under that, so the acted with the most caution and concern for their own safety.

[@DjVortex-w]

@@sammycool4049 Nope. In the United States there are only two ways in which police officers can enter a private home without permission: They either have a warrant issued by a judge, or there are so-called exigent circumstances to do so. The latter means that there's some kind of immediate danger that absolutely requires immediate intervention (such as immediate danger to someone's life). There were no such circumstances here. The protections granted by the 4th Amendment are extremely strong, and mere "reasonable suspicion" is not enough to breach it. Especially not when the "crime" in question is so petty as this one (stolen newspaper).

[@sammycool4049]

@@DjVortex-w the point that I was trying to make is that the large amount of burner fuel, combined with Chuck’s weirdly strange/confrontational behavior, could constitute exigent circumstances, as it is reasonable to suspect that arson is about to be committed.

[@saudude2174]

@@sammycool4049 There is a reason police break ins like this one pretty much never happen in reality - it's not legal and they wouldn't hold in any court. They'd have to pay big money. I understand your point, but you're wrong.

[@Zinozad]

These cops are dumb as hell. They made no attempt at communicating, just brute force. They're lucky Chuck is just an old man with a quirk, and not an actual "tweaker". This could have gone very wrong for everybody here. When a suspicious individual doesn't cooperate, it is MANDATORY to play along, listen to them, and make them feel in control. As long as they don't show any sign of physical aggression, using brute force is the quickest way to ensure a catastrophe.

[@lordlossize]

they did try to communicate. they pointed out quite correctly that the neighbour didnt consent to selling the newspaper, and he just goes off on a tirade about the law like hes some sovcit nutjob also if a suspicious individual doesnt cooperate, the LAST thing you do is play along. giving them the power of control over the situation is what they want.

[@Zinozad]

@@lordlossize Yeah but they jumped from quirky guy to "he's gonna blow up the whole neighbourhood" just upon seeing the camp fuel and the wires unplugged. That's crazy behaviour for an officer of the law. Jumping to conclusions and being aggressive in a situation where no one is in immediate danger is a VERY POOR way to handle police situations. You always need to remain calmer than the other party, and indulge in whatever quirkiness they have, so that they feel safe and open up to you. Chuck might have had a gun or custom weapons for all they know, they're just going bust his door open because they're too tired to handle his conversation ? It's reckless and endangering themselves, the suspect, and any other party that might be involved.

[@lordlossize]

@@Zinozad if i saw some random dude spewing random bollocks on the street, but then suddenly saw a bomb-making kit in his back pocket, i would make that jump, too. also wires unplugged? they look ripped out the wall. unplugging would leave them neater. and yeah chuck might have a gun, which is why they acted fast instead of standing there like lemmings and giving him time to line up a shot on them through the door like mike did to that dude in chows factory. plus it was VERY suspicious that he told them to leave all their gear outside including the non-lethal weapons they use and the method to contact for backup.

[@Zinozad]

@@lordlossize There's a huge difference between camp fuel and bombs. You said it yourself, it was SUSPICIOUS, not freaking dangerous. You don't break down doors and tazer people upon SUSPICION, that's highly irresponsible, unprofessional, and dangerous. Not to mention illegal. As he said himself, Chuck wasn't being incoherent, he was being annoying, that's again a HUGE difference. These two cops just have hero syndrome and think they need to save the day, to which they disrespect protocol to achieve. They should have called their boss, asked for a warrant, waited for instructions. They didn't hear screaming or anything that could indicate anybody was in danger. Just reckless acting all the way from them.

[@lordlossize]

@@Zinozad yeah and theres a huge difference between matches and meth, but as we saw in breaking bad, matches can be used to make meth. just like camp fuel can be made to make a bomb. suspicious is often enough to cause this kind of reaction from police, especially when there are multiple unknown variables and not a lot of time to discuss them all. notice how chuck was becoming more erratic as the conversation went on, how werent they to know he wasnt about to do something against them, especially after mentioning they should drop their weapons if they want to come in? that sounds bordering on the danger to me. and - not to get into the politics of the real world, simply using this as an example of my point - we saw during the attempted assassination of donald trump, that the guy was walking around with a rangefinder a few hours before he attempted to shoot the man. now that is suspicious behaviour, not dangerous, but he still should have been flagged down for it and brought under police custody, as chuck was here. i wouldnt say they have hero syndrome. ill admit they read the situation poorly, and will concede the point that they could have called their boss on how best to proceed, however not a lot of cops get that luxury when dealing with who they believe to be unhinged lunatics, so i can see why they wouldnt waste the time, either. now that ive conceded that, will you concede that chucks behaviour and his messed up back of his house would make him less credible in the eyes of police?

[@drewbeans]

Chuck should have chucked all over those cops and chucked outta there

[@sanfordrussell8549]

Truly an absolutely horrid and unfathomably unoriginal comment

[@Rendez557]

He wasn’t chucky enough

[@MegaMeco2]

What in the cuckanary

[@WaIItuh]

Chuck it..

[@Elderrion]

I love when Chuck said: "it's Chucking time" and chucked all over those cops. Best scene in BCS

[@AstroWilliamss]

Bro left $5 for a newspaper the neighbor is a Karen lmao

[@WaIItuh]

How dare that man run off with my paper but still pay me! 👵

[@hotelhotelhotel]

True

[@Zinozad]

Did she consent to sell him her newspaper ? Just because you leave money behind doesn't mean you can go around to do whatever you want with other's properties.

[@Zinozad]

@@WaIItuh Yeah, let me just steal whatever is on your front porch and leave its value in cash behind, I'm sure you'll appreciate me taking whatever belongs to you without even asking.

[@hotelhotelhotel]

@@Zinozad ok karen

[@officialrealistyoutube]

This is a re-enactment of when im hungover

[@nickamenta12]

And definitely no tasers! 😂

[@BudimirVeselinovicJessePinkman]

😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@theguycisterninoyelledat6272]

those cops just broke so many laws

[@geigertec5921]

I guess you can say... they broke bad.

[@geigertec5921]

They broke bad.

[@plaguefellow1499]

Like? They didnt enter his home without consent until they saw potential bomb making materials

[@theguycisterninoyelledat6272]

@@plaguefellow1499 doesn't matter probable cause does not extend to a home you need a search warrant. Unjustifiably arrested the man after breaking into his home which would constitute excessive force. Unless it is clear as day that the objects in view are identifiable criminal objects they don't have any jurisdiction. Suspicion doesn't equal crime in short Unlawful search and seizure False arrest or imprisonment Unnecessary use of tasers more so excessive force considering chuck is an old man and is yielding.

[@summ.3433]

@@plaguefellow1499 Suspicion still isn't enough to justify a break-in, the only instances would be if there was an immediate intervention (like someone's life is on the line), not for some stupid newspaper.

[@Protofall]

Wow, and this whole time I thought Chuck was the asshole? Its almost like these two guys specifically did everything possible to hurt Chuck.

[@jefferycrouse4652]

That's cops for you

[@ayalus2123]

3:31 I don't know why I find this very funny

[@DunkIeosteus]

lol it is kinda silly

[@IAmNumber4000]

Bro got vaporized

[@AnthonyBlamthony]

Because its a perfectly cut scene

[@JampingVan]

He look like Vampire

[@cashwat210]

It’s like he’s getting abducted by aliens

[@mfd8346]

To be fair the police thought Chuck wasnt the owner of the property. The fact theres no electricity too is also pretty suspect

[@milkdudder]

The only time he is able to power through the imaginary pain from his condition it is either in pursuit of preserving his ego, or sabotaging the one person who has supported him throughout the entire ordeal. Picture of hypocrisy when it comes to integrity

[@NotBadCouldBeBetter]

*Officers knock on Chuck’s door* Chuck: I’m the one who knocks!

[@elrenegat61]

Those cops are fucking dirty ... jesus ...

[@tukes1234]

Even on tv they violate our rights

[@ISISareDemocrats]

Losers ☝️☝️☝️lol

[@ligjoe3300]

I hated those 2 cops

[@DaScorpionSting]

Chuck should've known better to steal his neighbor's newspaper

[@sppj3140]

I cant imagine how mentally messed up an intelligent man like chuck would have to be to believe he had devolved an allergy to electricity he must have really been suffering

[@s.o.k.1393]

Those cops are tweaking wtf

[@kushalramakanth7922]

They just went in tasers blazing lmao! Chuck wasnt even a threat

[@cantaloupegodling352]

Most kind and understanding cop:

[@MurlUrlak-d8g]

These cops just got a huge law suite and may be even criminal charges for breaking into person house without warrant!!

[@johnhenry4844]

Bruh it’s America, cops do what they want be real

[@Richard-yt9vi]

No cat scans

[@Aemilius46]

The amount of Chuck haters is seriously sad!! Jimmy was WAY worse and yet somehow he's loved! Wow! 😅

[@doublexp568]

Because he's an asshole brother who is the reason Jimmy is the way he is

[@lordlossize]

do you think a man just happens to become beloved like that? no! he orchestrated it, jimmy!

[@dwightyboy5324]

I'll admit Chuck isn't a perfect guy, but Jimmy/Saul was a bad guy too. A lot of people usually go "Oh well Chuck made him that way" which I find is BS. Part of Jimmy's character was he couldn't resist pulling scams and basically trying to find shortcuts. Plus Mike basically tells him later on everyone makes their choices and it's ridiculous to blame others for their actions. I think a lot of people miss the point of his character. I don't think Jimmy is evil by any means, but some people make too many excuses for him.

[@saparapatepete]

This is true in and out of universe. Chuck didn't have the social skills to get away with being selfish

[@D00DM00D]

Bro got ash baby'd

[@DanJonesShow]

When the police ask you to open your door, you best do it.

[@3irikur]

No, no you really better not unless they have a warrant

[@-crimson-2399]

LMAO nooooooooo that's exactly what you SHOULDN'T DO. Even if you did nothing wrong. NEVER let police enter YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY. Cops are lazy and if they are pursuing a crime, opening your door to them just opens the opportunity for them to pin the crime on you, solve the case and go about the rest of their day. Never open the door to cops unless they have a warrant. And if at all possible, ask to see the warrant before opening the door. Also record ALL interactions to protect yourself.

[@ISISareDemocrats]

Losers who live in moms basement still ☝️☝️☝️☝️

[@chrisbilling]

For a show centered around law this is a very unrealistic scene

[@m1n0s23]

Cops like this exist in the real world

[@cheaplaffsarefree]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

[@ligjoe3300]

I didn't like those cops, they didn't even apologise

[@SuperMrDeadpool]

Most cops will happily beat your ass then charge you for getting blood on their uniforms.

[@ISISareDemocrats]

lol 12 year old losers ☝️☝️☝️☝️

[@cat-.-]

So american cops would bust down your door over a newspaper??

[@jirkazalabak1514]

I don´t think they were originally planning to go in that way, but after they saw that Chuck was mentally ill, they probably reconsidered.

[@cat-.-]

@@jirkazalabak1514ok so american cops bust down your door because you're mentally ill? does not compute either way!

[@bens.3590]

I'm pretty sure they were led to believe that he was dealing with methamphetamine, due to the one cop mentioning how Chuck seems like a tweaker. Also I doubt that the ripped out breakers helped Chuck's case, after already being seen by the neighbor with a space blanket on.

[@michaelsieger9133]

No, they first invent some scenario in their head about how you're actually a supervillain, meth-cooking, heroin-using, car thief, and then their hero complex takes over and they bust down the door.

[@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy]

​@@michaelsieger9133 You mean making the fairly logical conclusion that this is a squatter and/or junkie who's hiding and rambling inside a vandalized house, while they're there already investigating a report of theft? ... Cause that's the way _normal_ people probably read the situation.

[@freesoul3371]

What a stupid utterly ridiculous story line with chuck and his illness. No one would put up with him in the real world. No one would appease him. Especially a lawfirm. Anyone in the real world would see he is a nut case and needed to either get over it or get institutionalized.

[@saparapatepete]

He got away with it so far because he was working with Howard's dad and funded the company. He was usually well composed and professional, but we saw his latest years when he had a beef with his little brother. His symptoms were harder to conceal and his selfish and erratic behavior became more noticeable