Posted on 11/22/2006 8:16:37 PM PST by AdamSelene235
ATLANTA -- 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 Johnston, opened fire on the officers from the narcotics division at a house at 933 Neal Street, according to officials.
Atlanta Police Asst. Chief Alan Dreher said at a news conference Wednesday that an undercover officer made a drug purchase at Johnston’s address late Tuesday afternoon from a male suspect. Officers were able to obtain a search warrant after that.
Asst. Chief Dreher said as they were executing the search warrant, the officers announced themselves and then forced open the door. Officials say the warrant was a “No Knock” warrant – meaning that the officers did not knock before forcing open the door, but they did announce themselves.
Dreher said as soon as the officers forced open the door, Johnston shot at the officers and the officers returned fire to protect themselves. One officer was shot 3 times – once in the leg, on the side of the face and once in his bulletproof vest. One officer was hit in the leg and another hit in their arm. All officers are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation – as is common.
Officials say they have not made any arrests in the case and they have not located the male suspect. Dreher said suspected narcotics were recovered from the home but they are awaiting lab results to confirm the items are drugs.
Dreher said a marked patrol vehicle was parked in front of the residence and the word “Police” was written across the front and back of the narcotics team’s vests. He also said only a matter of minutes passed between when officers arrived on the scene and when they forced open the door.
Asst. Chief Dreher referred to the incident as a, “tragic and unfortunate incident.”
The woman's niece, Sarah Dozier, says that she bought her aunt a gun to protect herself. Relatives believe Johnston was frightened by the officers and opened fire.
Her relatives say Johnston 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.
She says the officers "shot her down like a dog."
Police say the investigation is continuing.
Except that so many die taking them.
Your quote from back in October: "I remember a retired black pastor in Boston who died in one of these raids. They had the wrong house."
Did he too get what he deserved?
"I remember an east coast southern couple with a dog being pulled over in their car and their dog shot as the cops chased after a fictitious robbery based on a phone call from an idiot."
Did they get what they deserved?
"I remember four plain clothes cops (three of which were rookies) pumping 41 bullets into a black man as he tried to get into his apartment building. They thought his keys were a gun."
Did he get what he deserved?
I'm reserving judgement on this one. Too many unknowns.
I know but there has to be a better way. Maybe wait them out and detain them while a search done?
THEY break into her house, she defends herself, and SHE got what she deserved? What if they were real criminals? Would you be saying she got what she deserved then for defending herself against them?
I'd say the cops got what they deserved and they're lucky to be alive. She isn't. This isn't a police state.... yet.
Perhaps. But my gut tells me this woman was prepared for cops coming to her door for a reason and I will admit I could be wrong. I'd rather wait and get further info.
Even if she was the ring leader, shouldn't they have known who was in the house? She couldn't stay in there for ever and old people are not going to flush their drugs:')
Except that so many die taking them.
That's their choice. They know the risks. Better them than innocent citizens.
I really don't know.
I'm sober. I'm an Independent so that means I can go with the best parts of all parties. Libertarians have some interesting ideas. I like a few of them. What I really am though, is an advocate for the elderly.
You know, if this were an isolated incident, this whole thing would be a different matter. Problem is, there's just too many instances of this kind of thing happening. One or two tragic mistakes are one thing and shouldn't be unexpected. There are too many reports like this for my comfort.
There have got to be better ways of catching and dealing with drug dealers. This method is not worth the cost in innocent human lives.
In a way, it's like the kid in CA who was tasered by the cops because he refused to show ID in the college library. Immediately thereafter, there were protests against the cops' actions. For the wrong reasons. But then we find out that one of the cops involved has had issues with being over-zealous. Was this a legit action by the cops involved or did they have cause? Rather than a knee-jerk reaction by anyone, I want to know the facts.
Good. Because I'm getting there. ;)
I understand but I'm saying either way, if she was innocent or guilty, there has to be a better way that would prevent 3 officers from getting shot and a homeowner killed.
Aren't we all:')
You too Bud:') Wouldn't you rather be living independently , and armed at 92, instead of being spoonfed oatmeal in a nursing home? Peace.
Cindy, I don't know what the answer is. In this case, assuming they did have the right house, bullhorns, maybe? While the dealer inside the house flushes it all? Perhaps the cops were over-zealous. Perhaps the lady's child/relative/whatever could have considered that he was putting her in danger in the first place.
That would be me. :)
Your quote from back in October: "I remember a retired black pastor in Boston who died in one of these raids. They had the wrong house."
Did he too get what he deserved?
"I remember an east coast southern couple with a dog being pulled over in their car and their dog shot as the cops chased after a fictitious robbery based on a phone call from an idiot."
Did they get what they deserved?
"I remember four plain clothes cops (three of which were rookies) pumping 41 bullets into a black man as he tried to get into his apartment building. They thought his keys were a gun."
Did he get what he deserved?
Not the same. The Boston cops raided the wrong address. The traffic stop was based on incredibly bad testimony of a telephone caller. The New York shooting followed Clinton's addition of 100,000 mismanaged and inexperience police to the streets.
In this case, an undercover cop bought drugs from this household. They had very good probable cause. All the dopey Libertarians are crying foul because of the war on drugs. I say she got what she deserved because she in all probability knew drugs were sold from her premises. She wanted a gun to protect herself from local competition or hoodlums who knew she dealt. She especially got what she deserved because she shot first without any warning and continued to shoot men wearing the customary POLICE vests until shot dead. she made her choices in life. There are consequences for bad choices.
Leave it to the likes of the "law 'n' order", you have nothing to fear from cops crowd at FR, and we will be a police state.
BTW, so far only one of the KGB wannabes has defended the police actions. Their main argument is that if you oppose police abuse, you must be a drug-crazed Libertarian. Better a drug-crazed Libertarian than a power mad thug with guns, handcuffs, and the keys to the jail house.
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