o.O

Oct 17, 2008 21:15

Andrea Baker, Erik Kush, Julie Madrigal, July 23, 2004-AZ

Police conduct a massively armed raid on a home they suspect contains illegal assault weapons and ammunition. In a densely-populated, upscale neighborhood, a SWAT team from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department, complete with an armored personnel carrier, uses grenade launchers to fire at least four rounds of tear gas into the windows of the home. The quarter-million dollar home catches fire shortly after officers enter.

As the homeowners evacuate, police officers chase the family's 10-month-old pit bull puppy back into the burning house with puffs from a fire extinguisher. The dog perishes in the flames. Police allegedly laugh at Andrea Baker, the dog's owner, as she cries at their cruelty.

Later, the brakes fail on the SWAT team's armored personnel carrier, causing it to lurch down the street and smash into a parked car. The car's owner, Julie Madrigal, had fled the car just moments earlier with her nine-year-old daughter after the two grew frightened by the firing of tear gas canisters by SWAT officers.

The home is completely destroyed. Nearby homes are also put at risk. Police find no assault weapons, only an antique shotgun and a nine-millimeter pistol, both of which are legally owned. Nevertheless, police arrest 26-year-old Erik Kush on outstanding traffic violations.

The sheriff of Maricopa County is Joe Arpairo, who made national headlines in the 1990s for his aggressive treatment of inmates and unconventional approaches to crime control. One member of Sheriff Arpairo's SWAT team once told CBS News reporter Jim Stewart the best part of being on the SWAT team is that, "You get to play with a lot of guns. That's what's fun. You know, everybody on this team is--you know, loves guns." Another adds, "Hey, the bottom line is it's friggin' fun, man. That's the deal. Nobody wants to take burglary reports."

Sources:

John Dougherty, "Dog Day Afternoon," Phoenix New Times, August 5, 2004.

"Ill-Treatment of Inmates in Maricopa County Jails, Arizona," Amnesty International, August 1, 1997, http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510511997?open&of=ENG-373.

Jim Stewart, "Use of SWAT teams up greatly across the country," CBS This Morning, December 9, 1997.

Alisaleh Moshad Ali, May 9, 2007-NY

New York City Police are accused of breaking into a Yemeni immigrant’s home, holding him at gunpoint and illegally removing $2000 in cash from a jacket in his closet.

Police later apologized for the mistake. However, no explanation was given for the missing $2000. The NYPD claim that someone else had the opportunity to steal the money for a 30 minute period following the incident that Ali was not at home. This opportunity, not coincidentally, existed because the police had broken the door to his apartment.

Source:

UPI. "New York police raid wrong apartment" News Daily.com, May 20, 2007.

David and Lillian Scott, August 24, 2007-CA

A small group of Temecula police officers, known as the Street Enforcement Team (SET), carrying rifles burst through an unlocked screen door into the home of David and Lillian Scott and handcuffed them face-down on the floor. Also handcuffed were their 15-year-old daughter, two of her friends who were over at the time, and their 16-year-old son who was watching the couple’s 5-month-old baby. When Lillian inquired as to the safety of the baby, she says an officer told her that if she moved, "he was going to put a bullet in my head."

The raid was supposed to be at a parolee’s nearby one-story house. The Scotts live in a two-story home.

The SET was disbanded, and investigation was still underway as of September 13, 2007. However, a renamed team with the same mission was reconstituted with new members to replace the SET. After emailing the Mayor’s office, the Scotts were personally visited by the Mayor and police chief offering full and public apologies.

Source:

John Hall and John Hunneman. "Team of Temecula officers disbanded, under investigation." North County Times, August 31, 2007.

John Hall. "New Enforcement team replaces one disbanded and under investigation" North County Times, September 13, 2007.

Pam and Frank Myers, November 16, 2007-MD

While watching a movie together, Pam and Frank Myers were interrupted by Sheriff’s Deputies of Prince George’s county banging on their door. The couple was held hostage by the deputies in the room and not allowed to go to the bathroom for 45 minutes.

Mr. and Mrs. Myers claim that in spite of the trauma, it could have ended well with an apology...until they heard two shots from the yard which killed their 5-year-old boxer, Pearl.

The police had the wrong house. The police later arrested the suspect named in the warrant on felony drug and weapons charges. As of Nov.19, 2007, the Myers family had received no apology.

Source:

"Deputies Raid Wrong Address, Kill Couple's Dog" WJLA -- ABC 7 News Nov. 19, 2007.
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