A SWAT raid finally goes exactly according to plan

[mzmtg]

http://www.theagitator.com/archives/027165.php

Dead Dog, $5K in Damage, Guns, and Grenades . . . and Two Joints

Sugar Land, Texas:

"It was bang, bang, bang, then there was a boom as they broke the door in, threw the fire grenade, and then shot the dog," said homeowner Margot Allen. "This all happened in anywhere from five to fifteen seconds."

That's how Allen's son and boyfriend describe what happened that day. Sugar Land police acted on a tip. They say they found traces of marijuana and cocaine in her trash after a month-long investigation.

"There's no crack done in my house," she said. "There's occasional marijuana in my house. I don't do it because I don't happen to like it."

Based on the evidence in the trash, a regional SWAT team arrived at the home. Police say they knocked, waited 30 seconds, and then broke in with guns and a concussion grenade. The house suffered $5,000 damage and one officer shot and killed Margot's golden lab, Shadow, when police say it charged toward one of the officers. What did officers find inside?

"A joint half the size of my pinky fingernail and then one about this big," she said, showing a length on her finger. "And not anywhere near this big around."

The Sugar Land Police Department declined an on-camera interview, but they are defending their actions, saying they followed protocol to the letter.

I don't know about you, but if "protocol" means forced entry, flash grenades, and killing someone's pet all over traces of marijuana and cocaine in the garbage, I'd say it's probably time to rethink "protocol."

Even though they had no specific threat, they were prepared for firearms in the house and felt obligated to anticipate any resistance or violence. They say killing the dog was regrettable.

[...]

"They treated us like we were terrorists," she said. "They broke the door down. They shot my dog. They set my house on fire."

Ah, Ms. Allen, but you let your son smoke a joint in your home. There was residue in your trash can. As far as the government is concerned, that makes you no better than a terrorist. And worthy of no better treatment than one.

Also keep in mind, this is not a "botched" raid. The police did exactly what they intended. They got the right address. They found contraband. And they'll get two prosecutions out of this. For them, this case isn't a travesty, it's a victory. It's "protocol."

Cases like this one are worth remembering when debating the overuse of SWAT teams. Botched raids make for sympathetic anecdotes. But the argument isn't that we shouldn't send SWAT teams out on drug busts because they frequently hit the wrong home. It's that in a free society, it shouldn't be "protocol" for the government to break down your door, set your house on fire, invade your home with assault weapons, and slaughter your family pet for the crime of lighting up a joint within the privacy of your own home.

That's the argument.

Posted by Radley Balko on October 26, 2006

 

[carlrodd]

They also say Allen's boyfriend has a history of drug convictions.

and now he'll have another. i wonder if any of his prior 'drug' convictions resemble this one? and now the son will have a prior 'drug' conviction. and killing a lab?? they could have kicked it in the nose.

 

[Beren]

and killing a lab?? they could have kicked it in the nose.

In that context, I doubt they were thinking "pretty lab." They were thinking: "barking aggressive dog, shoot." I don't fault the cops for shooting the dog, from a tactical sense. That was "the right thing to do at the time."

That the raid happened in the first place - that we have a religious jihad against people doing what they want with their bodies in the privacy of their own homes - focus your disgust there, instead.

 

[Dave P]

A SWAT raid finally goes exactly according to plan ... and they got to use all those neat toys that we bought them!

And since this was a successful win in WOD, they can now hold their heads high as they ask for more money and ninja gizmos.

 

[Thin Black Line]

Sadly, SWAT raids are still a cost-effective means for confiscating property and
selling it later under asset seizure/forfeiture laws. Anything they get and sell
later is legally pure profit.

 

[svtruth]

Maybe they thought

it was a "meth lab"?

 

[Thin Black Line]

cymbal splash.....

 

[MechAg94]

Seems like an aweful lot of effort for just a drug possession case. Just how much drug residue did they find in the trash? Was there so much they thought they were dealers?

 

[hammer4nc]

I bet a sawbuck there's a backstory not being reported here:

1. suspects refused to be undercover snitches;

or;

2. DA/sheriff looking for pre-election new coverage..."tough on crime", etc.

or something similar.

About a year ago, I recall some discussion about the "Sugarland Kiddie Roundup", where swat raided a highschool beer party in ninja fashion...no unlike this article.

Would be interesting to have some local forum members fill us in on the details.

 

[Alex45ACP]

Sounds like another victory in the War on (people who use certain types of) Drugs.

 

[cropcirclewalker]

I don't know anything. I yam not in the drug culture, nor in the leo industry.

I am a non-combatant in the WOsD.

I thought getting caught with a small amount of marijuana was like a misdemeanor.

You know, like a speeding ticket.

'Zackly what are the charges gonna be? Anybody know?

 

[Phenom]

The charges will most likely be trumped up. I'm sure the justice system will throw other charges in with the original ones. Never break wind around the wrong cop. You may just get slapped with a "battery on a police officer" charge. Nothing surprises me today.

 

[Skywarp]

Ohh no two joints of a non dangerous drug. Totally worth a SWAT raid.


I wonder what would have happened if they knocked on the door and said, Hi were from the police, we have a warrant and please step out of the way so we can take your stash.

 

[carlrodd]

you can read these sorts of stories on a regular basis. meaning, it's not uncommon for police to use a heavy hand, and come up with nothing. without meaning to slander law enforcement...where is the oversight? law enforcement has the responsibility to gather very good intelligence/evidence prior to doing things like this. at what point is law enforcement held accountable for bad intelligence, or neglecting to get enough, and for brash tactics that produce no results. by the time police have made the decision that they need to kick in the doors to somebody's home, kill animals and destroy property, they had better be VERY sure of what they will find. and if any one department experiences a string of fruitless, needlessly invasive operations, it should be investigated and held accountable....by who?...i don't know off hand, but somebody.

the more violent and arbitrary policing becomes, the more violent and alarming the responses will become...cause and effect.

 

[Big Calhoun]

Let's see...translate time for investigation, time for prep, time to execute operation and operational time into $$$. Now, don't forget fuel, personall, ammo, any other costs associated with travelling. So, take all those wasted resources, make a few caluclations here...add in two joints that probably equate to 5 grams (at best) of marijuana...pull this lever here...multiply this by the x-factor of the moon. Oops, let's not forget to factor in the damage to the house the police won't pay for...one more lever push.

And your final answer is: The police spent $1000 on a $2 hooker. <round of applause>

On a more serious note, it's not so much their actions I question. It's more of the investigation that led to this series of actions that I wonder about. 'Traces'...in a garbage can. Hell, that could have been any crackhead just looking for something to eat. Bottom line: When you attach a dollar figure to this, it's a ridiculous situation.

 

[griz]

'Zackly what are the charges gonna be? Anybody know?

Owning a dangerous dog? After all it attacked a police officer.

Usually I avoid comment on these things since there can be so much not covered in one article, but we are now to the point that it's absurd to defend the "war on drugs". When it becomes normal to bust down a door and shoot a dog for something that is no more deadly than alcohol, the problem isn't drugs, it's the law itself.

 

[ETXhiker]

I don't particularly like the politics of the gang at "60 Minutes", but I would sure call them with a story like this. A little national exposure might influence other heavy handed departments to back off and think.

 

[cbsbyte]

This makes me sick.

Here is another perfect example of the use of an over zealous SWAT team for MINOR offenses. When will America wake and realize that our country is quickly becoming a police state?

 

[Crosshair]

It must suck to be these SWAT members. Screw rapist and murders, we gota go after these stoners. I smoked quite a bit of pot when I was younger and the only thing it did to me was make me fat,(Munchies) realise that 90% of what the government says is BS, and I learned to enjoy life and not be so uptight. I am also bipolar, the pot helped that, when I stopped, those problems came right back. I now take drugs that the government says that I can use for that problem.

 

[dasmi]

Two joints. Way to go guys.

 

[dasmi]

I now take drugs that the government says that I can use for that problem.

I bet they are worse for you than a little pot.

 

[cropcirclewalker]

I think the story must be made up.

SWAT doesn't raid a place for a joint and a roach.

I have been googling trying to find a validation/verification.

It's either made up or they dropped Margot Allen into the memory hole.

None of what you read and half of what you see.

 

[Raptor5191]

I have a great idea: How about get the whole story and validation?

 

[Skywarp]

I think itreally depends on where you are, here they wouldnt even bother with any legal action over a joint and a roach. Traces of marijuana isnt worth police attention, but in Texas where sex toys in a sex shop (Sara's secrets in Frisco, I'm not making this up) have to be sold as "novelty cake toppers" and have all the "naughty words" obliterated from the packaging I could see them going a little over the top.

 

[Big Calhoun]

I've also been googling and looking for a source for this story. Nadda yet. Something smells like canned tuna...