The F.B.I. Knocked on my door yesterday

[Kermit911]

It was around 9:30pm in Jersey and this guy knocks on my front door. So I looked through the windows and he held a badge up to the window. Well I don't use my front door so I have a DVD rack blocking it. I asked him, can I help you? He said he would like to have a few words with me, and if I could open the door. I told him to go to the side door. So I met him at the side door. I open the door and there are 6 guys standing there. I though Thats it!! My dumb ass falls for the oldest trick in the book and I was going to get robed. :banghead:

The main guy, he had his badge on his belt. The other 5 had there badges around there neck. They Dress real nice. The main guy came up to the door and ask If I lived here. I said yea. He asked if anyone els lived here. I said my wife. I noticed the other 5 guys huddling around one another. They were looking at a sketch not a picture. I asked the main guy what this was about. He asked How long have you lived here? I told him about 6 months. He looked a little surprised.

He asked me if I new whear the previous owner of the house is living now. I told him no, but I have been getting a lot of mail for him that I have been sending back to sender. I new that a few letters I got for him were Summons to appear in court. He said thanx for your help and he started to walk away. I closed the door and watched them from a window. One of them wrote down my Licens Plate # and then they left in this Big Suberban I think. Nice Truck.

Here is a question. If six guys are at your front door saying they are the FBI, and you have no idea what an FBI badge looks like. Would you answer the door with a gun on you?

Thanx
Kermit

 

[Janitor]

Would you answer the door with a gun on you?

I usually do anyway.

 

[Blue Jays]

Hi Kermit-

You could simply dial 9-1-1 and tell dispatch there are a half-dozen guys on your patio who say they are FBI agents, but you can't be certain because you've never violated the law. Ask them to please send uniformed officers ASAP to assist. It sure couldn't hurt and I think they would understand the brief delay.

~ Blue Jays ~

 

[Herself]

FBI have ID cards, too, though it would be hard to tell a fake -- but it would take a lot of work to fake it plus a nice shiny official-looking FBI badge! What've you got that's worth that much effort to a bad guy, let alone six of them?

However, better safe than sorry:

Answering the door with a stranger knocking, I routinely have a gun "on me" but not visible. And I'm smiling. Usually a smile and a friendly attitude are all the weapons one needs. When they are not, it's a lot better to have a gun than to not have one.

--Herself

 

[Blue Line]

Let alone the FBI, how do you know anyone at your door is who they say they are? If a utility worker shows up would you call police to verify? Nothing wrong with calling, in fact I encourge it. I would announce to the FBI that you have called the police or the local FBI office to verify them. That you will open the door/speak to them when the Uniformed Officer in the nice police car arrive. That would work for the utility guy too, don't get a number from them, just dial 411 and ask for the main number to your town FBI, gas company, etc. and verify. I would answer the door with a phone too, just in case, six on one aren't good odds, so call for back up(911).

 

[Molon Labe]

Never open the door to someone who displays a badge. Ever. I don't care who they claim to be... LEO, FBI, CIA, BATF, ABC, XYZ. I don't care if they're legit or not. I don't care if you're innocent or guilty of anything. It doesn't matter. Don't open the door. Instead, tell them the following:

1. We have nothing to say at this time.
2. Leave our property at once.
3. If you wish to make an appointment to speak with us, send us a letter or call us.

#3 is very important, as it will give you time to verify the inquiry and decide whether or not you should speak with them, whether or not you should call an attorney, etc.

Remember, do not let the JBTs intimidate you or control you. Stay in the driver's seat. Meet on your terms, not theirs.

 

[f4t9r]

would be nice to have someone else there to back you up with a shotgun or otherwise just call like others suggested

 

[rero360]

my father experienced something simular a couple of years ago, only it was a bounty hunter, he asks my dad if he was Andrew Garry Stevens, my dad says no, andrew grant stevens, showed his ID, and the bounty hunter was off to find the guy he was after.

 

[HighVelocity]

That really is a tough call. What would the LE think if you refused to open the door? Would he think I was not opening the door because I knew he was after me and didn't want to get caught? I have to wonder if an FBI agent or any other LE that comes to the door will understand my apprehension about opening it or take it the wrong way and up his level of aggression.

Luckily, I have several local Deputies living in my neighborhood so if I called the Sheriff's dept, an officer or two would be here pretty fast to check the identity of whomever was knocking.

 

[MDG1976]

I don't open the door for anyone I don't know, or am not expecting. They're usually just trying to sell me something anyway.

 

[Onmilo]

It doesn't matter what law enforcement agency shows up on your doorstep, none have the right or obligation to enter your dwelling without permission or a search warrant.
Personally I don't give permission,,,,,
The only waiver to this rule is the possibility that another individual is in potentially grave danger if the law enforcement did not enter the property for the purpose of investigation
The other posters are correct in telling you that if you have any misgivings about a law enforcement officers validity you may call your local law enforcement agency to dispatch a uniformed officer to confirm the other agents identity prior to engaging in any person to person contact with the agencies representative.

If they have a valid warrant they don't have to wait before forcible entry becomes a possibility, but most Federal Agencies will hold that option if you inform them of your desire to prove who they are before allowing entry.

'No Knock' warrants are fairly rare in todays litigeous society and if they had one of those you wouldn't be tapping on the old keyboard right now.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I will open the door for uniformed officers, provided I recognize the uniforms and there is a marked vehicle visible in my drive or on the street. I don't open the door for plain-clothes officers, or anyone who claims to be one, even if they flash a badge or ID, and I don't open for anyone who isn't driving a clearly marked official vehicle, even if they are in uniform.

I had an FBI agent come to my apartment once when I was in law school. He said he needed to talk to be about a friend of mine, who had gone to the Naval Academy and whom I knew was now an officer in the submarine program. I asked him for identifying information and told him I was going to call and verify it. He was polite and said he's wait. I didn't have the number of the FBI, so I called the city police main number and explained what was going on. They gave me the FBI local office number. I called that number and described the individual standing on my porch, and they verified he was who he claimed to be.

I advise my wife to follow the same procedure.

 

[bruss01]

There's a knock on the door. I peek thru the window and someone (uniformed or not) flashes a badge.

I say "Yes?", they say "<official agency>, I'd like to have a word with you, open the door"

I say "We're having a word right now... what's up?"

(either a brief conversation ensues regarding whether the old sofa in the middle of the street belongs to me or it gets more involved, such as....)

LE: "I need to ask you some questions"

ME: "This isn't a good time, either drop me a letter or call me at this number tomorrow at around 9AM - xxx-xxx-xxxx"

LE: "This will only take a moment, can you open the door please"

ME: "I want your name, badge number, and your supervisors name. I'm going to call and verify you are who you say you are. And I'll look forward to getting that letter or phone call if this is indeed a legitimate inquiry. Good night."

I understand he may be doing his job, but the days when an average ordinary citizen can automatically assume the police are all "good guys" and that Law Enforcement agencies pose no threat to the innocent are long past. Protect your rights, they're there for a reason.

 

[Molon Labe]

What would the LE think if you refused to open the door?

Who cares?

Would he think I was not opening the door because I knew he was after me and didn't want to get caught?

Who cares?

Do not open the door. Tell them to call you or send you a letter. Then decide if you want to meet with them. If you do want to meet with them, do so on your terms, not theirs.

Sorry to sound so paranoid; such is not my intention. But a prudent person should automatically assume anyone with a badge is a JBT unless proven otherwise.

 

[M-Rex]

Who cares?

Who cares?

Do not open the door. Tell them to call you or send you a letter. Then decide if you want to meet with them. If you do want to meet with them, do so on your terms, not theirs.

Sorry to sound so paranoid; such is not my intention. But a prudent person should automatically assume anyone with a badge is a JBT unless proven otherwise.

Hmm...yeah. Paranoid just about sums it up. Yes. I feel sorry for your family.

 

[Powderman]

Sorry to sound so paranoid; such is not my intention. But a prudent person should automatically assume anyone with a badge is a JBT unless proven otherwise.

Why?

 

[griz]

Here is question for the never open the door crowd. Are you the same people who complain about warrents being served by knocking the door down? Seems incosistent to me to hold both positions.

As to the topic, I would assume that six guys who went to the trouble to dress nicely and knock on my door are more concerned with honest answers than illegally entering my hose. I would talk to them as you did.

 

[thereisnospoon]

Hmm...yeah. Paranoid just about sums it up. Yes. I feel sorry for your family.

vs.

But a prudent person should automatically assume anyone with a badge is a JBT unless proven otherwise.

= Mindset

One displays the idea that we in America are citizens and that public servants work for us...the other indicates a mindset were we are mere subjects with no rights.

You're choice which you are, but as for me and my house, unless I invite them or they have a warrant, they can contact K. Edward Sexton, Esquire.

ETA: If they are so interested in the truth they can tell me their concerns through the door and I would then decide if I would like to invite them in...either way I am in control and not the public servants at my door

 

[Manedwolf]

Hmm...yeah. Paranoid just about sums it up. Yes. I feel sorry for your family.

Where I grew up in South Florida, there were a number of violent home invasion robberies carried out by people with fake badges they'd bought from various suppliers. They showed the badge, were let in, and attacked the residents.

It is the LAW that you can get their badge number, call and verify that they're legit.

Do you also pull over in a dark area for any car that puts a rotating blue light on the dashboard?

That's a good way to end up with a toetag, I'd say.

 

[XLMiguel]

Hmmmm - The FBI seems to come to my house at least once or twice a year. However, They always announce thier business, i.e. doing a background check on one of my neighbors. I have some interesting neighbors (CIA, Secret Service), as well as some 20-somethings who are seeking federal employment. We have a nice chat on the door step, or if the weather's crappy, I invite them in. They're always polite, professional, and gone in under 15 minutes.

But I understand the concern when a gaggle of 'em just shows up at your door after business hours. That would pretty much be a 'on the door step' conversation without a warrant-

 

[Nickotym]

I won't let anyone into my home without a warrant. My plan for this is to ask for their badge number and call my local sheriff's office to see if he can verify who is at my door. Once that is done I don't have a problem with talking to them with me inside and them outside the door, but they still don't get to come in even if it is 20 below outside.

 

[waterhouse]

Usually a smile and a friendly attitude are all the weapons one needs. When they are not, it's a lot better to have a gun than to not have one.

great line.

My property is gated. I'm sure anyone could hop the gate, but to get a vehicle into my driveway you have to call the house and get buzzed in. This gives me plenty of time to put some clothes and a gun on, so I do.

If a non uniformed officer shows up at my place at night, I would expect them to happily wait on the porch while I called the sheriff and put on a pot of coffee. I'll happily invite them in after verifying who they are.

 

[Mainsail]

Suggestion: Check your house VERY carefully. Look behind and under any drawers, look up under the kitchen cabinets for any small ledges, lean into the closet and look up at the inside wall, look for loose boards, etc. You may find a stash of money, drugs, or guns.

 

[WT]

Had you opened the door, gun in hand, I think those agents would have shot you dead.

I also think those agents should have come during daylight hours with a couple of local uniformed police officers.

If you refused to open the door and they had an arrest warrant for somebody at your address, which I think was the case, they would have battered your door down. Things would get really hairy after that.

Close call for everybody here.

 

[Pilgrim]

I noticed the other 5 guys huddling around one another. They were looking at a sketch not a picture. I asked the main guy what this was about. He asked How long have you lived here? I told him about 6 months. He looked a little surprised.

If I were a tactics instructor for the FBI, I would have harsh words for at least five agents in this gaggle for huddling up where one guy with a grenade or a fast semi-auto shotgun could get them all.

Pilgrim