Man killed by Sunrise police in drug raid had 2 ounces of marijuana

http://www.newsday.com/ ^ | August 10, 2005 | Brian Haas & Kevin Smith

[freepatriot32]

SUNRISE -- Police seized 2 ounces of marijuana at the home of Anthony Diotaiuto after shooting him 10 times, according to information on the drug raid released Tuesday.

Also Tuesday, while many friends and relatives of the 23-year-old bartender and student mourned him at a Davie funeral home, others appeared at a Sunrise City Commission meeting to demand an explanation for the fatal raid

"Do 2 ounces of marijuana constitute a death warrant?" asked Sunrise resident William de Larm, a friend of Diotaiuto's.

[freepatriot32]

update to an earlier version of this stroy here Sunrise SWAT team shoots man dead in search of drugs at home

If you click this video link you can see an interview with the mother of this murder victim and at around the 1 minute mark in the video you cna see the swat team standing outdside of this mans house smirking

[thoughtomator]

Keyword "OF" wouldn't be the same if this article was missed.

[freepatriot32]

Oh by the way the "Drug paraphernalia" they found was sandwich bags and postage scales so if anyone on freerepublic owns ziplog sandwich bags or postage meter scales throw them away or you will be shot by your superiors and if you survive yuo will go to jail for a couple of years and be fined a couple of thousand dollars Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[Old Professer]

One slug for every 12.5 grams.

[ContemptofCourt]

FWIW, 2 oz of pot is a bit much for personal consumption...

[flashbunny]

countdown to the JBT apologists commenting on thread...

[Old Professer]

My postage scale says to use 6 cents for each ounce of 1st class and 10 cents for air mail; still works fine, calibrate it with pennies and quarters.

[tamalejoe]

It's clearly time for the war on some drugs to go, and for marijuana and anything else like it to be legalized on the same basis as booze is.

[7thOF7th]

If you want to play you will pay! The Police identified themselves and the perp grabbed a gun. Justice served! I am tired of all these "after the fact" revisionist painting the story in the perp's favor. This Country must get back to some semblance of civilized behavior before it turns into a free for all. In other words, if you don't want to get shot don't point/grab a gun when the police are arresting you. Case closed!

[absolootezer0]

postage meter scales? will they count my powder measure scales as paraphenelia as well?
no wait.. that's probably under bomb making material, along with the couple pounds of powder and the primers.

[YOUGOTIT]

Cowards, Cowards but no one can do anything about it as they are the law and protected bu the court. All they have to say is there were drugs involved and murder is allowed. The police said there was a loaded gun in the house but they carry guns to plant as a matter of course so do not believe that either.

With all the terrorist loose and trying to kill Americans why in the hell are they raiding someone with 2 ounces of weed???????

Go find the people who are trying to kill US not some idiot with 2 ounces of weed.

[aynrandfreak]

The SWAT team knocked on Diotaiuto's door and "announc[ed] their presence" before smashing in his door about 6:15 a.m. They found Diotaiuto in his living room and ordered him to "freeze" and get on the ground.

Instead, Voss said, Diotaiuto fled to his bedroom and "armed himself" with a loaded handgun. Voss said it is unclear whether Diotaiuto pointed the gun at officers.

I'm for legalization, but he would not have been shot had he not tried to get his gun when the cops ordered him to freeze.

[Terabitten]

'Course, the cops did come in at 6:15 am.

I *am* a cop, and if anyone, cop or not, comes to my door waving a gun at 6:15 in the morning, I'm gonna go for a gun.

[HairOfTheDog]

2 ounces is a LOT of pot. A dealable quantity, even if he didn't have his baggies and scale out.

[absolootezer0]

can you show me where it says that the police positively identified themselves?

[Pearls Before Swine]

The pot part of the WOD is ridiculous.

Even if you don't agree with the above, a full SWAT team for a home pot bust is ridiculous.

And, if the police don't clearly announce themselves and give the suspect a chance to answer the door, bad shootings are inevitable. That this happens all too often is only confirmed by the fact that many home invasions are often commenced by the criminals breaking in and screaming "Police". Its only worthwhile to do because police do it all too often--otherwise it wouldn't work. Too many toys, too much publicity, too much adrenaline.

[kenth]

You didn't have to wait long.

[Spok]

The story says he picked up a gun. If he knew they were cops, his shooting was justified. The problem is whether he knew or should have known they were police. IMO, news accounts are difficult to base those decisions on.

[andyk]

A seemingly responsible kid goes for a gun over 2 ozs of weed, after they've entered the house? I don't buy the police's version of the story.

[flashbunny]

and if the cops wouldn't have used a no-knock warrant for 2 oz of pot, he'd be alive.

Criminals have been adopting the 'no knock' police raid tactics for home invasions - some even wearing police style clothing.

I'm a law abiding citizen. If someone comes crashing through my door guns blazing, they'd better be prepared to catch several rounds of 5.45x39.