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Gunfire in Texas in SWAT Raid
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009Keep an eye on this one. I could be wrong, but it certainly sets off some red flags.
First, according to the report, they brought in the SWAT team after “evidence was presented to a local justice of the peace that the residents were in possession of marijuana.” That’s possession, not distribution.
Second, according to a police spokesman, “As soon as they opened the door and announced they were the police they were fired upon.” That would seem to indicate this was a no-knock raid. For possession of marijuana.
Third, the police haven’t yet announced if they’ve found any drugs. That doesn’t mean they didn’t. But generally speaking, if they do find drugs in a raid ends in violence, they’re quick to point that out—particularly if it’s a large quantity.
Guess we’ll see. It’s possible that this report has left out some details.
Of course, even if they found pot, it doesn’t justify the tactics. It’s hard to believe someone guilty only of possessing pot would knowingly exchange gunfire with police. Note too that the police felt compelled to visit neighbors to be sure no bullets penetrated the walls of the apartment complex to strike anyone. All of that for a consensual crime.
MORE: A commenter says that “one of the TV stations reported they have been charge with felony possession.”
Three people shot over, as you say, a consensual crime. Ugh.
This is the first time since the late 1980s that a Temple police officer has been shot in the line of duty.
I wonder at what point Temple switched over to SWAT for warrant service and why, given that they hadn’t had an officer shot in 20 years(it doesn’t say what the circumstances of that case were)? Was there just some point where PDs around the country decided that going in like this was safer?
““As soon as they opened the door and announced they were the police they were fired upon.”
Im starting to really like hearing that. Seems like since no court will hold them accountable, the citizens must do it themselves.
‘As is normal Temple Police Department protocol, four officers were placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the shooting investigation, Hunt said.’
normal?!! how routine is this shit?
Must have had some dope, because one of the TV stations reported they have been charge with felony possession, but have not been charge in the shooting yet.
I agree, Claude. Things I’d like to hear:
- As soon as they approved the tax hike they were fired upon.
- As soon as they approved a huge bailout they were fired upon.
- As soon as they announced the huge bailout failed and AIG would go into bankruptcy anyway they were fired upon.
They probably gunned down their own men. Officers coming in the back fire on the unarmed ‘perps’ and shoot the officers coming in the front, or some variation on that theme. Now they are just trying to figure out how to blame the perps for the gunfire. Once they get a good story together they’ll tell the reporters what to say.
Hell, it might just be that the druggies were watching Saving Private Ryan on a nice surround sound setup, and the cops thought they were getting shot at so they fired back indiscriminately. Thats my guess.
Whenever you do a narcotics search warrant and you use SWAT team you
will have at least four to six SWAT team members and then special investigation unit officers behind themcreate a dangerous situation where none previously existed and needlessly endanger the lives of everyone involved.Fixed that for em.
I’m with ya on that Boyd. Its about time to water the tree of liberty again, its starting to wither and dry up.
What would happen if a million armed citizens marched on Washington? I mean, they had a million there before, just unarmed. (At least a million is what was said, although I think actual reports put it at 200K. I don’t know.) What if they all had a rifle? Would the military intervene? I bet half of them at least would join in. Doubt the secret service or fed marshals could withstand that kind of assault. Then it would just be a matter of finding all the politicians and bureaucrats–with certain exceptions such as Dr. Paul–lining them up and mowing them down.
(DISCLAIMER: For all you NSA types out there, I have no plans to do such things, nor do I or have I ever owned a firearm. Just a nice little daydream in my mind…)
I saw a bit of a program about heroin on CNBC the other night.A DEA agent said that,unlike other ‘crime’, buyers are from all walks of life.Doctors,house wifes,students,ect.I’m sure it’s the same for pot with far more users.This guy couldn’t understand that a law that is ignored by people of all walk of law is useless.A small percentage commits most violent crime,yet half the population has used drugs.Drug warriors just can’t seem to make the connection.
“Just after the shootings, officers evacuated buildings one and two of the apartment complex to check on the welfare of residents in case any bullets had passed through walls.”
So why is it considered a good idea to evacuate ppl AFTER the fact again? as opposed to just not starting a gunfight or evacuating them beforehand?
The warrant was signed by a JoP. In Texas, JoP are citizens elected to that office (well, unti lthey pass an upcoming bill). Most likely it was someone “easy” to get a warrant from. Proably a “confidential” informant.
Did the cops have any real authority to evacuate all the other apartments? They said ” No one else was injured, though some residents had to remain outside while investigators searched for bullets. ” Was that really what they were searching for? Or were they using it as an excuse to search the other apartments for evidence against the other residents of the apartment complex? Am I just being cynical to suspect their motives in this? Or perhaps I have been reading this blog for too long.
Since no one was actually killed, do the drug warriors still consider this as evidence that they’re winning the war on drugs?
I somehow doubt that in the minds of LEOs there is any distinction between posession and distribution. Why should there be? Any amount over a pre-determined (totally arbitrary) weight can’t possibly be for personal use. Yeah thats it. A bunch of folks sitting around in a circle, doing bong hits and watching cartoons is a drug “ring.”
So where were these brave SWAT cops when that guy was killing 13 people? took them an hour to go in; probably after he was dead. Seems like they are only willing to kick in doors when they think the people inside are harmless….
OK, I admit I am a cynic
Maybe they didn’t announce that they found drugs immediately because they hadn’t planted them and then discovered them yet.
this is my town that it happened in. I was shocked when I saw it as the cops tend to be pretty good here, that is at least they listen. But fully disagree with the use of swat to serve warrants especially like this. I just said to my wife and friends, what would have happened if someone had died?? What then?
It would have just been another tragic consequence of drugs use.
In the United Sates, if you come across some public policy that insanely absurd, it probably has to do with sex. Sex laws are a lot like drug laws. A large segment of the population laughs at and openly defies such laws because everyone knows they don’t really have anything to do with crime. They’re more like your mother telling you to behave. But, they also don’t give a second thought to the destruction they wreak on people’s lives (unless it happens to them).
This is how all uninvited intruders into your home should be dealt with. Be they “home invasion” or cops (but I repeat myself).
The cops should be regrouping and seriously question if marijuana is worth losing THEIR lives over.
Until that happens its only going to get worse.
As a guy who’s lived in an apartment building and lives in a condo now, I find the total disregard for the safety of the neighbors to be terrifying and that’s ignoring the possibility that they might mistakenly raid my unit. I know that the walls in my last place wouldn’t have stopped a BB, let alone any actual gunfire.
On what grounds can the risk presented to innocent people by raiding a multiple dwelling building in this manner be justified?
From the story:
So… if you elect to exercise your second amendment rights, that’s enough to have the police kick your door in and gun down your family rather than, say, knock on the door?
@#13 Zero
You and I had the same thought. This was just a chance to execute a search on the neighboring apartments without a warrant. Because, you know, chances are that if you live next door to someone with weed, you probably have weed too.
They sure as hell were not the slightest bit worried about whether or not they may have killed an innocent person through those walls. If they were, they would have evacuated them before entering.
But then, something might have tipped off the target and they would have had a chance to flush their weed. And the cops decided a long time ago that they are willing to sacrifice innocent lives to make sure they get a bust. We are nothing more than acceptable losses and collateral damage in the drug war. And we have to be willing to die, at the hands of the pigs, to keep us safe from something that you can’t even kill yourself with by overdose.
If these SWAT guys are sooooo special, why is the perp still alive? Why is it that Mr. Perp did not get the “double tap” between the eyes?
These SWAT guys want you to believe that they are God’s gift to gun fighting, but they’re just cops playing with toys at the expense of our liberties. If I read the article correctly, the untrained perp shot better than Mr. Ramboswatcop.
Any honest “post action” report of this raid will compare the perp’s bullet “accountability” with that of all of these “specially trained” SWAT cops.
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