Elderly Couple Hospitalized After Cops Raid Wrong House

Fox News ^ | March 23, 2006 | AP staff

[seacapn]

HORN LAKE, Miss. — An unidentified elderly Horn Lake couple were hospitalized Thursday after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

The incident occurred Wednesday about 4 a.m., said police Capt. Shannon Beshears. Beshears said it was the right address but the wrong house.

Beshears said a heavily armed Tactical Apprehension Containment Team stormed the house.

"We had good information from a reliable source that had been backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

"It was the wrong house," Beshears said. "The house was totally dark and the TACT members went through to the bedroom looking for the suspects."

A man and a woman — both in their 80s — were injured as TACT team members secured the house although no drugs were found. There were children in the house also, but they were not awakened, Beshears said.

[seacapn]

This is an interesting story, because it raises an interesting question that some people involved with law enforcement might be able to answer - if you are going to raid a house, or a building, but it's not exactly clear which is the right building to raid, what is the usual procedure?

[Red Badger]

EEENEY, MEENIE, MINEY, MOE...........

[Abathar]

"A man and a woman — both in their 80s — were injured as TACT team members secured the house"

Totally uncalled for hurting those people like that. At 4am I can't believe either one of them, especially the woman, would need to be hurt. I don't care how much adrenaline is there, that is ridiculous.

[Abathar]

LOL!

[goldstategop]

The police should be sued to keep this from happening again. The couple could have been killed - and they could still die. This is what happens in the WOD... the police get carte blanche to break the law because they think the means justify the end. How would you like to be confronted with a SWAT team on your property? Sorry isn't big enough to measure the harm done here.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Mulder]

Those criminals need to be arrested and charged with multiple felonies.

[Billthedrill]

Dumb. I'm for the cops most of the time but this one not only freaked out the old folks but pooched the bust as well. Whatever police work went into identifying the bad guys went out the window because somebody decided to flip a coin.

[Blzbba]

"EEENEY, MEENIE, MINEY, MOE..........."


Response Of The Day nominee right there.

[rellimpank]

--another example why most SWAT teams should be disbanded and the members issued a .38 Special with two speedloaders, shod in a pair of brogans with soles about an inch thick and required to walk a beat twice a shift--

[csvset]

We had good information from a reliable source..

Well, kind of reliable ....

[jiggyboy]

Beshears said the woman received a dislocated shoulder and the man received bruised ribs.

Clear that this is more JBT action. Anybody you see, take 'em down as hard as you possibly can, one on each arm just to let 'em know who's boss.

I'll bet it's just about impossible to fall down flat on your face and get a "dislocated shoulder" or "bruised ribs". Most of the time when I hear of that kind of injury it's a car accident or falling off a roof.

[steve-b]

However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

The idea of calling HQ for clarification never crossed this dimwit's puny mind?

[MineralMan]

"if you are going to raid a house, or a building, but it's not exactly clear which is the right building to raid, what is the usual procedure?

"

Apparently, you raid the larger house or building. Perfectly logical, eh?

[Mulder]

From the article:

He said he believes his officers acted correctly and followed procedures when they entered the first home. "Obviously, a mistake was made and it was regrettable," he said. "But, I stand by my officers. I think they acted properly."

Wouldn't it be a shame if a bunch of armed thugs broke into this JBTs house, and sent him to the hospital?

[steve-b]

another example why most SWAT teams should be disbanded and the members issued a .38 Special with two speedloaders one bullet, which they are required to keep in a shirt pocket at all times.

[300magnum]

Beshears said the woman received a dislocated shoulder and the man received bruised ribs.

Why are SWAT teams crashing into peoples homes?

[One Proud Dad]

The fault lies with one officer. The one who petitioned the court for a search warrant. He is typically the same one who leades the raid so he/she is at fault. Very shotty investigative work. Probably got a tip from an informant and did not follow-up. I disagree in suing the whole department.

Mistakes are made but the police are right 99% of the time. You only hear about the 1 out of 100 incidents that they are wrong. Officer in charge should be reassigned or off without pay in the least or a more significant punishment if local, and I repeat local, senitment dictates.

[Mulder]

I'll bet it's just about impossible to fall down flat on your face and get a "dislocated shoulder" or "bruised ribs". Most of the time when I hear of that kind of injury it's a car accident or falling off a roof.

The victims were 80 years old. Not in their 20s. ANY injury at that age is a potentially life changing event from which they will never recover.

At least the Nazi stormtroopers made it home safely, which is all that matters anymore in Amerika.

[proudpapa]

But hey! At least they didn't wake the children!

[joe fonebone]

"But, I stand by my officers. I think they acted properly"
They put two 80 year old people in the hospital, and he says they acted properly? What the hell kind of an arrogant a$$ is this guy? Sue the $hit out of him, and the entire police department there!!!!!!!!