Posted on 12/27/2018 10:55:13 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper
PRIEST LAKE — Snipers claimed the life of a Washington state man who engaged in a standoff with Bonner County sheriff’s deputies, according to counsel for the man’s widow.
Craig Johnson, 50, was shot to death outside his Coolin cabin after allegedly pointing gun at deputies on Sept. 26, 2017. Deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Johnson after he had pointed a gun at a deputy during a welfare check that was conduct a day earlier.
April Linscott, who represents Johnson’s wife, Robin Andrews, told a 1st District Court judge that Andrews requested the welfare check after being unable to reach Johnson. The deputy conducted the welfare check at around midnight.
“He came to the door armed not knowing who was there. As a result of the welfare check, nothing happened. The officer left and then did proceed to get an arrest warrant because Mr. Johnson answered the door with a firearm,” Linscott said during Dec. 10 hearing on a defense motion to dismiss the civil case against Idaho State Police.
Andrews sued the state to obtain public records about the shooting and the earlier confrontation, in addition to evidence seized in the shooting investigation. Andrews has also filed a claim for $5 million in damages from the county for unlawful use of force.
When deputies went to serve the arrest warrant on Johnson, they arrived at the cabin in a Lenco BearCat, a wheeled armored personnel carrier, Linscott told the court. She added that two law enforcement snipers were positioned in the woods nearby and that Johnson exited the rear of the cabin to avoid a confrontation with the SWAT team at his doorstep.
“He was afraid for his life, presumably, when he left the rear of the cabin and was subsequently shot by the snipers,” Linscott said during the hearing.
Idaho Deputy Attorney General Leslie Hayes argued Andrews’ complaint should be dismissed because the plaintiffs were unable to show that the search warrant was unlawful or that criminal charges were not being contemplated. Hayes added that the initial public requests could not be honored because an investigation into the officer-involved shooting was ongoing.
Special prosecutor Barry McHugh, the elected prosecutor in Kootenai County, ultimately cleared Bonner County deputies of wrongdoing in the shooting, according to Hayes.
Linscott argued that Andrews is owed the information about the welfare check and shooting by ISP under state law.
“There was a widow who was trying to find out what happened to her husband. As you could imagine when you lose a loved one you need to answer the questions of why? (and) How did this happen?,” said Linscott.
Senior District Judge Steve Verby took the motion to dismiss under advisement.
So he answered the midnight call at his cabin with a gun in his hand.
How is that a crime?
Move along nothing to see here
is this normal?...checking on people out in the boondocks at midnight?..
A Bearcat,,,
against an old Man
in the Midnight hours?
Sheesh.
Happened to someone I knew years ago. He died in his own doorway, thanks to an estranged wife and Dallas Sherrifs Office.
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One doesn’t point a gun at Hitler!
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The title to this article should be: “Snipers Murdered WA Man”
“is this normal?...checking on people out in the boondocks at midnight?..”
I’m guessing that they are required to honor a request for a welfare check within a certain time limit. They may not have had a choice.
When one get a knock on the door at midnight, all kind of fears enter ones mind enough to arm themselves. The attempt to do the welfare check should have done in the evening before nine o'clock. Not good.
Malice aforethought and let the police do your dirty work.
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They plan to do this to everyone that owns a gun soon.
Erik Swallsmell has dedicated his life to it.
Adam Schiff seconds the emotion.
“The officer left and then did proceed to get an arrest warrant because Mr. Johnson answered the door with a firearm,”
So that is grounds for an arrest warrant and to shoot someone running away hours later?
Well, I guess they will murder me too, because I live in a similar situation, and day or night I will be armed when greeting unexpected ‘visitors’.
The fact that they are hiding everything is very suspicious.
Well the story does not say if he exited the rear of the house caring a firearm or if he pointed one at the officers. Kind of important information.
"...Any excuse to play with expensive toys..."
It seems like various forms of government have a license to kill.
Don’t believe me? Ask Lavoy Finicum...or the Branch Davidians.
5.56mm
That was the first name that came to me when I read the Article. Sad that is how we think.
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