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To: From The Deer Stand

Good article here:

THE SATURDAY ESSAY
July 19, 2013, 7:09 p.m. ET

Rise of the Warrior Cop

Is it time to reconsider the militarization of American policing?

By
RADLEY BALKO

On Jan. 4 of last year, a local narcotics strike force conducted a raid on the Ogden, Utah, home of Matthew David Stewart at 8:40 p.m. The 12 officers were acting on a tip from Mr. Stewart’s former girlfriend, who said that he was growing marijuana in his basement. Mr. Stewart awoke, naked, to the sound of a battering ram taking down his door. Thinking that he was being invaded by criminals, as he later claimed, he grabbed his 9-millimeter Beretta pistol.
[image] Sean McCabe

The police say that they knocked and identified themselves, though Mr. Stewart and his neighbors said they heard no such announcement. Mr. Stewart fired 31 rounds, the police more than 250. Six of the officers were wounded, and Officer Jared Francom was killed. Mr. Stewart himself was shot twice before he was arrested. He was charged with several crimes, including the murder of Officer Francom.

The police found 16 small marijuana plants in Mr. Stewart’s basement. There was no evidence that Mr. Stewart, a U.S. military veteran with no prior criminal record, was selling marijuana. Mr. Stewart’s father said that his son suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and may have smoked the marijuana to self-medicate.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323848804578608040780519904.html


45 posted on 07/20/2013 8:48:52 AM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: KeyLargo

I would have more sympathy for Mr. Stewart if he wasn’t growing marijuana in his basement.


48 posted on 07/20/2013 8:56:46 AM PDT by karnage
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