Judge Rules Hells Angels Raid Illegal (Tosses Evidence in Assault of Cop)

Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | 12.2.04 | AP - Unsigned

[IncPen]

PHOENIX -- A judge threw out key evidence against a man accused of assaulting a police officer during a drug raid on an alleged Hells Angels clubhouse, noting the raiders waited only a few seconds to move in after an early-morning knock on the door.

Judge Michael Wilkinson chastised members of a multiagency crime task force and ruled they illegally entered the building on July 8, 2003, violating search-and-seizure laws.

Wilkinson said it was understandable that Michael Wayne Coffelt, 42, came to the door carrying a handgun. The knock on the door came around 4:45 a.m., and officers then waited just six seconds before using a diversionary grenade and breaking a window to enter the building.

Carrying the handgun "would appear to be reasonable behavior, given the hour and the fact that the house was under attack," he said in an order issued Monday.

Coffelt is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 5 on charges of aggravated assault against a police officer.

Officer Laura Beeler wounded Coffelt with a rifle, saying that he had fired his weapon at her first. Investigators later concluded Coffelt never fired.

Defense attorney Richard Schonfeld said Wednesday that the judge's order effectively gutted the prosecution's case. A spokesman for the county attorney's office said no decision had been made on whether to appeal.

Coffelt has sued Beeler, the Glendale Police Department and others in federal court, seeking unspecified damages.

[IncPen]

Although Coffelt then came to the door armed with a gun, the judge noted that it is reasonable for a person who has just been attacked with a grenade to arm himself.

[CPOSharky]

And when the JBTs come to your door?

[Max Combined]

"Officer Laura Beeler wounded Coffelt with a rifle, saying that he had fired his weapon at her first. Investigators later concluded Coffelt never fired."

Who was so stupid as to give a woman a rifle?

[btcusn]

Any raid of Hell's Angels is legal.
Wrong answer.
Bad raid, case is thrown out, lawsuit to follow.
Good raid, case goes to court, jail follows.
Which do you prefer??

And if someone bangs on my door at 4:45 am, I WILL have a pistol in hand when answering the door.
Jack

[Wolfie]

More importantly, when does her trial start?

[L98Fiero]

"And if someone bangs on my door at 4:45 am, I WILL have a pistol in hand when answering the door.
Jack"

Amen, brother.

[KoRn]

A no win situation for the police really. If someone knocks on my door at 4AM I'm going to be packing too.

I don't know what the circumstances of the raid were, but one would think that the police would have identified themselves before rushing in.

[monday]

"Any raid of Hell's Angels is legal."

Apparently not. I suspect the police are going to have to pay very much money to this particular Hell's Angel.

[Wolfie]

Couple Beaten After Home Invasion By Men Posing As Law Enforcement Officers

[IncPen]

... bang ...

[IncPen]

I suspect there are more of these stories than we would wish to know.

In this case the subject was lucky enough to survive to tell his story sue his attackers

[DainBramage]

LOL like someone would pose as a police officer to raid the Hells Angels club house with flash bangs.

[AppyPappy]

Where do people get the ridiculous idea that Hell's Angels are dangerous?

[TitansAFC]

I agree with your sentiment. This is ridiculous in so many ways.

What reasonable person would not go into defense mode at 4:45 a.m.? I mean, seriously..........

[cyborg]

Oh I have no idea *LOL* But they were the ones selling the crack and heroine in my nabe during the 80s. Their cute little ole clubhouse isn't far from me.

[CPOSharky]

Hey Chief,

Looks like Made in USA is not answering his mail.

I agree with you, a banging on the door in the wee hours rates having a piece in hand. And if the window breaks and a grenade comes through it would rate putting a bunch of 45 rounds THROUGH the door.

[KoRn]

I've heard of that happening allot. If I see what appear to be police at my door, I wanna see badges and ID's before letting them in.

Of course I don't have to worry about that, I live in a two stoplight town. I know who all the police are lol.

[AppyPappy]

Crack and Heroin? Yeah right. No one would ever believe the Angels would sell DRUGS! It's a social club. Like the Masons. Or the Lutherans.

[CPOSharky]

Where do people get the ridiculous idea that Hell's Angels are dangerous?

Stupid Hollywood movies?

[AppyPappy]

Exactly.

They make them sound like....well, the Pacers or something.

[CPOSharky]

LOL

[azsportsterman]

Any raid of Hell's Angels is legal.

Uh, Hells Angels are doctors, politicians, lawyers (you may be right on this one) dads, moms, and Freepers, too.

[Lurker]

Already posted:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1292894/posts

L

[DainBramage]

Are you insinuating this could possibly be a righteous bust gone wrong

due to a scared, poorly trained officer discharging their weapon

at a Hell's Angels biker that was pointing a weapon at them during entry?

All cops are Jack Booted Thugs no matter what crime or criminal they are attempting to stop!

Libertarian threads get more entertaining every day.

I see it as a sort of political penis envy.

[cyborg]

I like the HA's who are into cleaning living (as much as they can afford to do). I do NOT like the ones who still distribute drugs. It is impossible for a raid to happen at the HA clubhouse near me. They have a ten foot high fence with video cameras all around the house. Maybe some clubhouses aren't as well protected.

[CPOSharky]

Lets see... At 4:45 AM, six seconds between knock and grenade assisted entry, and the only charge is assualt on an officer with a weapon that was NOT fired.

No mention of drugs being found.

You figure it out.

[TalonDJ]

What is your point? I probably WAS a 'righteous' (as you call it) bust gone wrong. I don't know about scared and poorly trained but anyone kicking in the door of a biker gang at 5am must be WANTING a shootout. Until a criminal has been convicted by a jury of peers in THIS country they STILL HAVE RIGHTS. It does not mater how criminal they are those right still exist and even if you and some cops wish they didn't/

[em2vn]

Hand gun? No thank you. Shot gun is the ticket for filling up a doorway with home invasion deterrent.
Knock on the door, flash bang, caved in door, then you get shot. If these guys want to get into combat so bad they should sign up now and taste the real thing.

[DainBramage]

LOL no mention of anything but the biker being shot. No mention of the warrant,

or what the reason for the initial raid was,... rape, drugs, murder. No body here cares,

you just like posting stories of anything anti-police, then taking turns bragging

about how you would blast their asses off if they did it to you.

I'm sure it was just a bunch of cops that decided on their own to go screw around with the Hell's Angels to see what would happen.

Who knows maybe even trample some drug dealers rights.

I'm sure its all in the JBT handbook.

[MJRitter]

Where do people get the ridiculous idea that Hell's Angels are dangerous?

I don't know things like the Laughlin, NV Harrah's fight that left 3 dead about 12 wounded.

Statements like "Besides all that copyright bullshit, if you try and steal from us, you will be beat'in with your own computer."

They have a reputation for violence and have plenty of memebers who are more than willing to keep it alive.

[stylin19a]

Tell the Hell's Angels that, since the case was thrown out, they have to come get their drugs. When they pick 'em up....arrest them again.

[AppyPappy]

You make them sound like such ruffians.

[Smogger]

Uh, Hells Angels are doctors, politicians, lawyers

LOL! Living in Ontario, CA one city away from the Fontanna, CA where the "Angels" were first formed, I can tell you that's a crock. They're methamphetamine manufacturers and distributors, and drug traffickers in general. Though, many of the worst offenders are in federal prison.

[zeugma]

More importantly, when does her trial start?

When does her trial start? HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHA!

You're not from around here are you?

[zeugma]

If these guys want to get into combat so bad they should sign up now and taste the real thing.

Uh, I don't think they are much into situations where their intended victim can shoot back.!

[IncPen]

Already posted

Thanks, L

I searched this story 6 ways to Sunday before I posted it 'cause it had FR all over it, but it didn't come up

Can't hurt to post it twice I guess

[azsportsterman]

I personally know several HA that are members of those professions. I also know severl more that are currently serving and retired members of the US military. Just as we don't condemn all members of Christian organizations as abortionists, there are members of these organizations that support abortion. Perhaps you shouldn't be painting the entire group of HA members by the actions of a few.