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Father: Raid on Petaluma house was confusing, terrifying
The Press Democrat ^ | May 8, 2012 | Mary Callahan

Posted on 05/14/2012 6:00:16 PM PDT by Altariel

Victor Flores said he was in the bathroom of his Petaluma home last week getting ready for work shortly after 4 a.m. when an explosion shattered the predawn silence, followed by a scream.

He immediately thought his wife was being attacked as she returned home after working the night shift, Flores said.

In fact, dozens of federal agents had converged on their McNeil Avenue house to arrest their oldest son, also named Victor Flores, and search the rental house as part of an investigation into a 2010 triple homicide in South San Francisco.

The quiet neighborhood was awakened by loud bangs, presumably from flash-bang devices agents often use to distract a suspect as they enter a building.

Then the bullets started to fly.

When the gunfire ceased, three federal agents were wounded.

One of the family's two dogs, a boxer named Sassy, was dead.

The Flores' home was peppered with bullet holes, including one mere inches above the headboard on the bed where Flores' youngest son slept.

****

He even appeared in court a week earlier and could have been arrested then, his parents said.

“I don't know why they did this to us,” Ana Flores said.

Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security Investigations, would not address the question of the agency's approach to the arrest, except to say, “Our foremost consideration is the safety of the agents” and other people in the area.

(Excerpt) Read more at pressdemocrat.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: california; donutwatch; petaluma; victorflores
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Apparently, officer safety was such a concern that it led them not to arrest the suspect a week earlier at the courthouse.
1 posted on 05/14/2012 6:00:24 PM PDT by Altariel
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To: Altariel

We all know that officer safety is the mostest importantest thing of all.

So if grandmothers, kids, and dogs get killed in the process well that’s just something we all have to learn to live with.


2 posted on 05/14/2012 6:04:35 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it is the only answer.)
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To: Altariel
"Homeland Security Investigations"

Is that a new popo organization?

How many do we really need?

"The SA now numbered over a million. Its traditional function of party leader escort had been given to the SS, but it continued its street battles with "Reds" and attacks on Jews. The SA also attacked or intimidated anyone deemed hostile to the Nazi programme: editors, professors, politicians, uncooperative local officials or businessmen.

Under Röhm, the SA also often took the side of workers in strikes and other labour disputes, attacking strikebreakers and supporting picket lines. SA intimidation contributed to the rise of the Nazis, breaking down the electoral activity of the left-wing parties. However, the SA's reputation for street violence and heavy drinking was a hindrance."

3 posted on 05/14/2012 6:07:40 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Altariel
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security Investigations, would not address the question of the agency's approach to the arrest, except to say, “Our foremost consideration is the safety of the agents” and other people in the area.

Their priorities are upside down and so increasingly are their reputations. If we eliminate the public safety as a priority (or even a consideration) then the bond is broken and anything goes.

4 posted on 05/14/2012 6:10:00 PM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
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To: Lurker

Always with the pre-dawn raids.

Can’t wait till morning when the perp walks out.

The article didn’t say why the shooting started, but one thing is sure:Once it starts the cops empty their guns in anything standing.


5 posted on 05/14/2012 6:10:26 PM PDT by Venturer
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To: Altariel
Interesting:

"When all three were outside, the shooting continued, he said, even though no one was left in the house.

One of the family's two dogs was shot and killed. The other had bolted and escaped, though an agent chased it with a gun, he said.

Victor Flores, moved to tears by the memory, said he begged the agents, “Don't kill my dogs!”"

6 posted on 05/14/2012 6:11:58 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Altariel

The less admirable part of my nature sort of wants a group of citizens to raid a police station, shoot a few K-9’s and leave the place in shambles.

Like I said, it’s the less admirable part of my nature.


7 posted on 05/14/2012 6:14:02 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (I like Obamacare because Granny signed the will and I need the cash)
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To: Altariel

They won’t let soldiers kill the enemy if there are civilians withing a mile, but in our own country it’s OK for copys to come in with guns blazing.


8 posted on 05/14/2012 6:14:02 PM PDT by BuffaloJack (End Obama's War On Freedom.)
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To: Venturer

Do the SWAT Teams have barrels with fish in them at their training sessions?


9 posted on 05/14/2012 6:14:16 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Venturer

One of these days on of these teams is going to go after someone who knows what he’s doing. And he’ll kill every single one of them.

Can’t say I’ll be sorry to see it.


10 posted on 05/14/2012 6:15:30 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it is the only answer.)
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To: Altariel
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security Investigations, would not address the question of the agency's approach to the arrest, except to say, “Our foremost consideration is the safety of the agents” and other people in the area.

Three agents wounded. One dog killed. A boy nearly murdered while sleeping in bed. So, tell me, Virginia Kice, how did all that work out for the safety of agents and the public????? Dumbasses.

11 posted on 05/14/2012 6:17:08 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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To: BuffaloJack

But the bystanders are “’untermensch’”.


12 posted on 05/14/2012 6:19:12 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Altariel

It says they don’t know who fired first? I guess grenades don’t cound as “firing”.


13 posted on 05/14/2012 6:19:39 PM PDT by Hugin
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To: muir_redwoods

I don’t think there is anything less than honorable about that. More people should get angry at this crap and wish doom on the idiots carrying out these raids.

I’ll bet a buck that at least two of the wounded cops were shot by other cops. Any takers?


14 posted on 05/14/2012 6:21:01 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it is the only answer.)
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To: Hugin
Who knew we even had this directorate protecting us?
15 posted on 05/14/2012 6:22:16 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Altariel

They have to justify the SWAT budget by doing these raids.


16 posted on 05/14/2012 6:22:38 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
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To: Altariel
Read on. They claimed to have met a "barrage of gunfire from assault rifles." But it turns out the guy only returned fire with a hunting rifle, and says he had no idea the attackers were from the gov, which sounds plausible considering the methods employed.

Many of these federal agents are truly keystone cops. It seems like once a shot gets fired panic spreads through the ranks and they start to spray and pray. I guess dogs are viewed as safe targets for these guys to get their bragging rights on, although it sounds like a miracle that no people were hit.

The article states that the oldest son of the homeowner was being picked up on murder charges -- whether the guy is innocent or guilty, this was an extremely dangerous, careless, and breathtakingly unprofessional way to go about capturing him. I read an article recently where a women got 20 years in the clink for firing a warning shot, yet these bears can go bananas with an entire arsenal in a residential area and get away with it. I guess a badge and a bigger gun makes you right these days. Sad.

Regards,

Cope

17 posted on 05/14/2012 6:23:15 PM PDT by Copenhagen Smile
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To: Hugin

I suspect that the wounded cops were wounded by friendly fire.

Entirely avoidable had they either arrested the suspect at the courthouse or arrested him after knocking on the door and presenting a constitutionally-valid warrant at the door.


18 posted on 05/14/2012 6:23:19 PM PDT by Altariel ("Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!")
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To: muir_redwoods

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_%281946%29


19 posted on 05/14/2012 6:27:29 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: muir_redwoods

20 posted on 05/14/2012 6:33:19 PM PDT by Paladin2
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