That being said, if SWAT could charge Joe Citizen with a crime, even when Joe Citizen wasn't anywhere near that location, then we're all in trouble.
The only ones guilty of anything here is the SWAT team who didn't do proper due-dillegence before they played with their toys.
I’d wager those charges get dropped. Probably just being used as leverage.
“That being said, if SWAT could charge Joe Citizen with a crime, even when Joe Citizen wasn’t anywhere near that location, then we’re all in trouble.”
Let me step through this:
SWAT goes out and shoots someone ... just anyone.
(Maybe they get a warrant, maybe not. I guess they should have some ‘suspect’ in mind as the purpose of the raid. They don’t even have to know where he is; maybe it’s better if they don’t with this NEW tactic. And then shoot whomever. Get a two-fer if they shoot someone who is a problem, like standing there with a video camera.)
Now, charge the ‘suspect’ for the death. He is now ‘armed and dangerous’ and shoot on sight for any/all LEOs in the US.
This would be one of the few instances when I wouldn’t despise the thought of being a juror.