[jdub]

"Even more to the point, why didn't they just knock on the front door and ask him what the plants were? Why the SWAT approach?"

It makes me sad that it took this long for someone to point this out. I for one am sick and tired of the "authorities" choosing the smash in the door with guns drawn as the first option. Here in TN a couple of years ago an elderly man was killed by cops when he tried to defend his home against what he thought were criminals (he was right, actually). turned out they had the wrong address. IMO these thugs relish the chance to play soldier and don't consider other, less invasive options like stakeouts, or a simple knock. I wonder if we can get an honest legislator to introduce a law against these tactics as a first resort?

[green iguana]

I for one am sick and tired of the "authorities" choosing the smash in the door with guns drawn as the first option.

So am I, but I doubt they smashed in the door in this case. As I understand it, that sort of warrant serving is only legal when the police believe that the occupant of the house could get rid of the evidence if they are given a bit of time. As the full sized plants were outside in the front yard, that doesn't seem to apply here.

[TexanByBirth]

Your point is well taken by me!

The whole situation could have (and should have) been resolved by a trained officer paying a visit to this man. It is not like this man was hiding the plants, they were in his front yard. If the plants turns out to be marijuana, the officer calls for backup and informs the man he is under arrest. If the plant turns out to be hibiscus, the officer just got a valuable botany lesson.

This SWAT mentality is what got 4 DEA agents killed at Waco when a McLennan County Deputy Sheriff could have handled the whole thing away from the Branch Davidian compound.

Bottom line is the governments behind these law enforcement agencies can expect to pay monetarily for these officer's stupidity.