Informant in shooting says he never bought drugs at house

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution ^ | 11/27/06 | SAEED AHMED

[FreedomCalls]

The confidential informant on whose word Atlanta police raided the house of an 88-year-old woman is now saying he never purchased drugs from her house and was told by police to lie and say he did.

Chief Richard Pennington, in a press conference Monday evening, said his department learned two days ago that the informant — who has been used reliably in the past by the narcotics unit -- denied providing information to officers about a drug deal at 933 Neal Street in northwest Atlanta.

"The informant said he had no knowledge of going into that house and purchasing drugs," Pennington said. "We don't know if he's telling the truth."

The search warrant used by Atlanta police to raid the house says that a confidential informant had bought crack cocaine at the residence, using $50 in city funds, several hours before the raid.

In the document, officers said that the informant told them the house had surveillance cameras that the suspected drug dealer, called "Sam," monitored.

Pennington on Monday evening said the informant told the Internal Affairs Unit hat he did not tell officers that the house had surveillance equipment, and that he was asked to lie.

The Chief still maintained that "Sam," the alleged drug dealer, "actually exists."

Pennington was joined at the press conference by representatives from various law enforcement agencies who are now looking into the shooting.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also been called in to investigate.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, at the request of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, is also looking into the incident, including examining the home to determine how many gunshots were fired in the confrontation.

Kathryn Johnston was killed Tuesday night when she fired at officers seeking to serve a warrant. They had broken down the front door and exchanged gunfire with Johnston.

Police later claimed a man named "Sam" had sold drugs from inside the house to an informant, prompting the officers to seek a "no-knock" warrant. Such warrants are frequently issued so police can get inside a home before suspects can destroy or flush drugs.

Johnston --- described by neighbors and family as a frightened woman who had burglar bars on her windows and door and rarely let friends and neighbors into her home --- had lived at the one-story brick home near the Georgia Dome for 17 years.

The police chief said officers found marijuana inside the house but "not a large quantity." The officers were not wearing uniforms but had on bulletproof vests with "Police" emblazoned across the front and back. And they identified themselves as they burst through the doors, police said.

Johnston grabbed a rusty six-shot revolver and emptied it. Five shots struck the officers, hitting one of them three times. The other two were each hit once. The officers returned fire, shooting Johnston twice in the chest and elsewhere, police have said.

The three officers were released from the hospital the next day. They are on leave with pay.

Funeral plans for Johnston have not been made.

[gondramB]

I'm watching local Atlanta news - they say that 8 officers, not three were involved and all eight are on administrative leave.

[Wilhelm Tell]

And those who own firearms.

Especially that. They can't allow the people to get in the way of "the Revolution."

[TomSmedley]

The WOD is merely preparation for a paramilitary police state.

TV shows like Numb3rs (which I enjoy) present a militarized fedralized "police" force as normal. Traditionally, though, the cops were the agents of local government, the polis.

[Wormwood]

Bump for great "Justice"

[Sam Cree]

"a no knock commando raid with such wide latitude to search and seize everything electronic in the house is simply wrong... Where is the opportunity to read the warrant or call a lawyer - even if this was by the book it is severely troubling."

I am troubled by them as well, especially considering that one of the usual justifications is that the presence of firearms were suspected in the house. How can that be a justification in a country that has the RKBA? Quite frankly it assumes that we don't have the right to bear arms, which is troubling in itself.

The whole no knock, go in shooting procedure has the air about it of the Spetsnaz or SS. Its acceptance by Americans is ominous.

[gondramB]

>>I am troubled by them as well, especially considering that one of the usual justifications is that the presence of firearms were suspected in the house. How can that be a justification in a country that has the RKBA? Quite frankly it assumes that we don't have the right to bear arms, which is troubling in itself.<<

They re-interviewed the neighbors who had been calling for a federal investigation and also the minister who advises the family and led the call.

To a person they all mentioned that while these particular cops needed to be off the street that it was a blow to the neighborhood to have the drug squad grounded - that the drug squad was critical to keeping the neighborhood safe.

The people aren't troubled that the home owner had a gun or that cops are there and have guns. They aren't troubled by an 88 year old woman having a small amount of pot. They are concerned about the mis-use of guns by drug dealers and the violence that surrounds organized drug trafficking.

[Redcloak]

Sheesh... I'm not that old!

; )

But seriously, I have yet to see any report that there were narcotics found at the house. Thus, there is no reason to refer to the old woman's house as a "crack den". It's becoming increasingly obvious that there was no reason for the police to make that assumption either. They behaved recklessly and they did so because our Drug Warriors cheer them on.

...and the way to keep crack dens out of neighborhoods is to legalize the crap. Once that's done, simple zoning laws will do the trick.

[Sam Cree]

It makes sense that the people of the neighborhood don't want drug dealing and crime. The loss of the presence of eight members of the drug squad seems to be the result of the no knock raid, however.

I wasn't inferring that the neighbors wanted the RKBA ended, I can imagine that being armed is very important to them, as it was to the lady who was killed.

I am inferring that the frequent police justification of no knock commando raids by suspected presence of firearms on the premises equals an assumption by the authorities that the RKBA no longer exists. Or alternately, it assumes that no knock commando raids are justified on all Americans, since we all have the right to be armed.

[PaxMacian]

This is beyond murder it is terrorism.

The unlawful use of or threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.--FBI definition of terrorism.

[gondramB]

>> But seriously, I have yet to see any report that there were narcotics found at the house. Thus, there is no reason to refer to the old woman's house as a "crack den". It's becoming increasingly obvious that there was no reason for the police to make that assumption either. They behaved recklessly and they did so because our Drug Warriors cheer them on.

...and the way to keep crack dens out of neighborhoods is to legalize the crap. Once that's done, simple zoning laws will do the trick.<<

Aha - there's where I was unclear - it must have sounded like I meant this particular house was a crack den when my comment was intended generally. The presence of organized crime like drug houses with the violence that is used to defend them is a serious problem - that's what I meant.

Its looking more and more like this woman was innocent although I still think its wise to reserve judgment til we get the GBI and FBI investigations.

The problem with legalizing heroin and cocaine is the very large portion of people who use it who try it who become addicts - its a different question than alcohol, or pot where the addiction percentage is 10% or so.

[gondramB]

I actually already got your position and agreed with it - I just figured most thread readers didn;t have the local Atlanta news broadcast and so I was sharing the neighborhood reaction.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Interesting view of the situation. I'll give you that.

You should expect to come under withering fire from the "Law enforcement can do no wrong!" lobby for making such a statement here.



After all, if she hadn't been some sort of criminal, she wouldn't have died at the hand of law enforcement.

Do I really need to add the /sarcasm tag?

[Smogger]

You can't fight the law of supply and demand. Some people around here need to take a BUS1A or BUS1B micro or macroeconomics. Something where they get a look at a supply and demand curve. Black market economics works pretty much the same as regular economics, and I have never seen an example where all of the sudden the supply just disappears when there is a demand at a certain price level.

[Sam Cree]

"I just figured most thread readers didn't have the local Atlanta news broadcast and so I was sharing the neighborhood reaction."

Thanks, guess I was getting a little confused. I do have a couple friends who are not exactly cops, but are civilian employees (they still have badges, though) of the Atlanta force, even they are kind of agog about this.

[RedStateRocker]

You and me, both.

5 our of 6 shots on target.

[yeff]

I wonder what the rest of this story will be. I fear it's not going away anytime soon

I fear it will.

Much more discussion on multiple postings of this story under keyword: wodlist.

[Redcloak]

The problem with legalizing heroin and cocaine is the very large portion of people who use it who try it who become addicts - its a different question than alcohol, or pot where the addiction percentage is 10% or so.

I really don't care enough about them to where that makes any difference to me. I'm in favor of letting the stupid among us be stupid and to suffer the consequences of their own stupidity. Generally speaking, these are people who are determined to ruin their lives. I don't see why I should be forced to pay for quixotic attempts to save them from themselves; and I really don't see why this old woman had to lose her life in this jihad.

[JeffAtlanta]

Her family lied. She was only 88. Listen to both sides of the story.

LOL, yeah because the difference between 88 and 92 is all the difference in the world and totally changes the complexion of this incident.