Posted on 12/28/2013 9:03:20 AM PST by Oldpuppymax
On December 19th, a sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed during an attempt to serve a “no knock” warrant near Sommerville, Texas. Just before 6:00 A.M. an 8 member SWAT team broke through the door of Henry Goedrich Magee to serve a warrant which would permit the team to search the mobile home in which Magee and his pregnant girlfriend were living. Reacting to the pre-dawn, forced entry Magee grabbed a rifle propped against a bedroom door frame and fired at the unidentified intruders, killing 31 year old sheriff’s deputy Adam Sowders. No one else was injured and Magee was taken into custody. He is being held on $1 million bail and has been charged with capital murder, punishable in Texas by life in prison without possibility of parole or death by lethal injection.
These are the broad facts of the case as first reported by a number of print, radio and TV sources. The following additional information has been made public during the past few days:
1.) The “no-knock” warrant was issued at the request of...
(Excerpt) Read more at coachisright.com ...
“Sometimes I think law enforcement like this kind of tactic for the drama and excitement.”
Yes, and because they have all this training so why let it go to waste when they can use it virtually at will. This is simply another case where, as you say, there is a time for a no knock warrant, and this was not one of those times. Frankly, if they were issued a search warrant, found out when this “super dangerous” thug was out the place to be searched, all they had to do was show up, execute the warrant and use the evidence so obtained for an arrest later without all the hoopla.
If I’m on the jury, Mr. Magee walks.
Since a criminal act requires intent, how is it possible to commit the crime of “murdering a police officer” if one is unaware of his identity.
No-knock raids may improve the chance of police survival in raids on hard-core criminals. Maybe.
They appear to increase the chance of getting shot in raids on law-abiding citizens or low-level criminals.
Suicide by SWAT....
I failed to detect what the probable cause was in the warrant.
I assume the Dog lived...
Thanks. Missed that part.
Hopefully, those who make laws will realize that not only do too many innocent people get harmed or even killed, the NKW is just too obviously unconstitutional. A NKW for someone suspected of growing pot and/or might have guns? Isn't there enough violent crime happening all over to keep LEO's busy or is it just the thrill of busting someone's door down in the middle of the night?
He should be released, given a public apology and reimbursed for the ammunition he was forced to use in defending himself. He should probably also be given some sort of award for surviving the ordeal.
A 177mm Howitzer is more appropriate...
I think a trap door just inside your front door is a safer option for all concerned - just drop ‘em straight into the septic tank. Hey, it’s not the homeowner’s fault they didn’t look where they were going! :)
I don’t blame the judge till I see the affidavit for warrant. If all the judge had was an affidavit saying the guy was a felon, known to be armed, and standing guard over a warehouse of illegal drugs I’d issue one too. Hopefully this is not a verbal warrant.
As far a the copper goes, more than likely some honcho suggested he get the no knock warrant or told him to get one.
The guy had only a very minor criminal history. The deputy probably figured he could do a dramatic dynamic entry with little actual risk.
The deputy figured wrong.
Dynamic entries should be reserved for taking down heavily armed drug gangs, but the cops don’t because taking those guys on is dangerous
The family with equal full-auto would help also.
Body armor not so good with high cal rifle.
The victim isn’t necessarily a model citizen, but I believe he was well within his rights to protect what he perceived to be a home invasion.
The sheriff who heads this department needs to be fired!
Cops have forgotten that no-knock entry was intended only to prevent evidence from being destroyed. That concept has gotten totally lost as cops adopted a war-mentality where the occupants of a home are the enemy instead of being a suspect. No-knock certainly doesn’t make forced entry any safer, and is probably more likely to result in death.
I would do the same. Breaking in unannounced is your death sentence.
In my world no knock is out door bell is in. You want to serve a warrant then dress up in you Sunday finest and two by two unarmed you go to the front door at high noon and do your duty. It is the only way prescribed by law. All others are as bad as the suspected criminal and the results are many times unwarranted (no pun intended) and undesirable.
We are in the advanced stages of a police state and the next step in the process will not be pretty. Not all are part of the problem, but when it is civilians against the police it doesn’t seem to matter if it’s good guys or bad guys it is uniformed LE against the people. We are their problem.
Soon forgotten by many who swear the oath an office, his to whom you owe your allegiance.
Also, define "body armor."
A vest? Yes, crap against most any rifle. A vest with SAPPI plates?
I've seen a plate take a burst (5 or 6 rounds) of 7.62x54 steel core rounds and not penetrate. I knew the Marine that was wearing it and lived to tell the story. I helped pry the bullets from the plate to give to him.
Unfortunately, one round "missed" the plate and hit flesh - but luckily the plate stopped what would've ordinarily killed him.
-- I know another that took two rounds 7.62x39 to a plate; aside from a bruise, he was fine.
He is being held on $1 million bail and has been charged with capital murder,
?? HUH??
So you have no Constitutional rights in this State?
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