"In this undated photo released by the family, 91-year-old Kathryn Johnston is shown."AP Photo
Posted on 11/22/2006 7:06:38 AM PST by elkfersupper
Three Atlanta police officers were shot and wounded and an elderly woman killed at a house in northwest Atlanta Tuesday night.
The woman, identified by relatives as 92-year old Kathryn Johnson, opened fire on the officers from the narcotics division at a house at 933 Neal Street, according to officials. Authorities say they received a tip of drug activity taking place at the home and officers were headed to the house with a search warrant.
The woman's niece, Sarah Dozier, says that she bought her aunt a gun to protect herself and that her aunt had a permit for the gun. Relatives believe Johnston was frightened by the officers and opened fire.
Her relatives say Johnson had lived in the house for about 17 years.
"They kicked her door down talking about drugs, there's no drugs in that house. And they realize now, they've got the wrong house," Dozier said. "I'm mad as hell." Officials say they had the correct house and that the warrant they had was legal.
Assistant Chief Alan Dreher says the officers had a legal warrant and "knocked and announced" before they forced open the door. He said they were justified in returning fire when they were fired upon.
Dozier said there were never any drugs at the house. She says her aunt must have panicked when the police forced their way into the home.
She says the officers "shot her down like a dog."
The plainclothes Atlanta Police officers were transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. One officer was struck in the arm, one officer was struck in the shoulder and one officer was struck in the thigh. All are expected to recover.
Even in the more comfortable scenario you've provided, the interview should occur outside your home in the driveway, on the front porch, seated on the rear deck, or even at the local police station at a time convenient to you. Inviting an officer into your home can only place you at a disadvantage in the current climate.
~ Blue Jays ~
And if I believe that SWAT teams should only be used against snipers and in hostage situations, what should I do?
I wonder how many of the cops took "friendly fire?"
Good question. First of all we don't serve our warrants at 0100. Secondly, I assume there are weapons in the house even when my informant says no. Information about weapons from informants tells me that the target has displayed them, left them laying about, is generally careless and engaging in criminal activity besides. That is a different situation. Like I said, I assume weapons, especially out West here and like I also said, I have only had SWAT serve one of my warrants in 6 years. We knock and announce. We give plenty of time, then we knock in the door.
Knocking in a door with a ram is a lot of fun but it's something not too many cops are going to get to do. Liability...and again, I can't speak to the way other agencies take care of their business. I was just getting cheesed off by some of the generalizations and characterizations people were making about cops and the manner in which search warrants are served.
I completely agree that for the average American, the best defense for you and your family is self reliance. Cops nowadays usually come in with the broom and dustpan to clean up the mess. If you have an emergency, you need help NOW, not 8-10 minutes response time if you're lucky.
Regards,
is she related to Randy Weaver or something?
"I wonder how many of the cops took "friendly fire?""
I would venture, VERY likely. Especially when weighed against the possibility of a 92 year old lady doing it.
I guess you shouldn't use the whole article title.
Over 40 years and the drug situation is worse than ever...War on Drugs...a total failure.
Ok, lets send cigarette smokers and DUI drivers to jail!
Those are both stupid choices.
Now I will wait for you to say" But that is not illegal!".
Duh.And neither should drugs be illegal...if you make a stupid choice with drugs, you have personal consequences but at least the rest of us don't have to suffer.
When the cops break into the wrong house, the innocent person has a right and obligation to protect his/her life and that of the family members, using deadly force if necessary. The cops, being on automatic pilot and trained to never doubt, never hesitate, never ask if they have the wrong house, will kill the innocent person.
The country has already descended into oppressive totalitarian fascism.
Thanks for the good reply.
I don't agree with that at all. FR is a great site for people to disagree on subjects of interest.
Yes we will........
You are one sharp cookie, KC!
I has been stated clearly in this article and by the police that the house was the correct house. Where do you get the idea it was the wrong house?
Watch when the real truth emerges and they find out about all the traffic that went in and out of that home. So what if she was 92, she opened fire on police officers executing a legal search warrant. TOUGH LUCK, SHE WAS STUPID!
I appreciate your answer in post 64.
I always wonder a little when I hear that commando type tactics used in the execution of search warrants are justified by the suspected presence of firearms. Our founding fathers, in the words of Patrick Henry, assumed that one would find in America "that every man be armed." We do have the RKBA, after all, which means that the presence of weapons ought to be assumed in the houses of all Americans. It almost sounds as if the Second Amendment can be used as justification for the routine use of these violent police raids, no matter what.
You did a nice job of explaining and justifying the police thinking, but I confess to having some qualms anyway, considering the original nature of America and our freedoms.
Ask the people of baghdad what wearing a police uniform means.
"In this undated photo released by the family, 91-year-old Kathryn Johnston is shown."AP Photo
There is a certain amount of "there but for the grace of God, go I" to this.
Busting into my home could easily get you shot and unless they are wearing ceramic armor, killed. I am not sure how long it would take me to check fire if they were yelling police etc, but at least one would be down by then.
I say this becasue the police have no cause for a no knock warrant for my home and I would assume they were perps. It would be a tragedy all the way round.
If it did happen,
Because MoHamHeads got rights.
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