Sheriff: SWAT Team Necessary Because Man Is a "Self-Proclaimed Constitutionalist"

Reason ^ | 1/8/08 | Radley Balko

[LibWhacker]

World Net Daily reports:

Nearly a dozen members of a police SWAT team in western Colorado punched a hole in the front door and invaded a family's home with guns drawn, demanding that an 11-year-old boy who had had an accidental fall accompany them to the hospital, on the order of Garfield County Magistrate Lain Leoniak.

The boy's parents and siblings were thrown to the floor at gunpoint and the parents were handcuffed in the weekend assault, and the boy's father told WND it was all because a paramedic was upset the family preferred to care for their son themselves.

The boy had apparently fallen and bumped his head. His father, who says he was a medic in Vietnam, says he examined the boy, determined he was fine, and saw no need to take him to the hospital. A paramedic called by neighbors forced his way into the home, then called police when the father refused to let the son go to thie hospital.

The police then sent social workers, who according to the Associated Press reported "a huge hematoma and a sluggish pupil." That night, they sent in the SWAT team.

As it turns out, the kid was fine. After the raid, a doctor examined him, and told him to drink some fluids and take a Tylenol.

I'm even more troubled by the explanation for the aggressive tactics:

The sheriff said the decision to use SWAT team force was justified because the father was a "self-proclaimed constitutionalist" and had made threats and "comments" over the years.

However, the sheriff declined to provide a single instance of the father's illegal behavior. "I can't tell you specifically," he said.

"He was refusing to provide medical care," the sheriff said.

However, the sheriff said if his own children were involved in an at-home accident, he would want to be the one to make decisions on their healthcare, as did Shiflett.

"I guess if that was one of my children, I would make that decision," the sheriff said.

But he said Shiflett was "rude and confrontational" when the paramedics arrived and entered his home without his permission.

Shiflett also home schools his kids. By the sheriff's own admission, then, the show of force was more about Shiflet's political beliefs and desire to be left alone than any real child neglect. "Constitutionalists," beware.

[wastedyears]

I want to see cop sympathizers explain this.

[The Last Rebel]

WOW. They really are afraid of those that different.

TLR

[sionnsar]

the paramedics arrived and entered his home without his permission.

!!!

[purpleraine]

Maybe the sheriff should check our the ole constitution himself.

[Brad from Tennessee]

The Glenwood Springs paper’s take:

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080108/VALLEYNEWS/248366321

[sionnsar]

Talk about digging yourself in. He’s just giving Shiflett more ammo for the lawsuit.

[mountn man]

But he said Shiflett was "rude and confrontational" when the paramedics arrived and entered his home without his permission.

How dare he be rude and confrontational.

In his own home.

[Wings-n-Wind]

I want to see cop sympathizers explain this.

*****

I want to see the size of the settlement....

This sheriff and this county will be hauled into federal court and their clock will be cleaned....
IMHO...

They will all be "constitutionalists" when this is said and done...
Again... JMHO

[MaxMax]

Government knows best when it’s for the Cheeeeldren. When isn’t it?

[rickomatic]

Hope that guy lawyers up and goes after this cowboy sheriff, and that entire SWAT team. I for one am a little weary of these wannabe commandos. They aren’t called jack booted thugs for no reason.

[mountn man]

She said law enforcement threatened criminal charges should the family even try to follow Jon or find out where he was taken. Jon was returned hours later, around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

So now would the police be accountable for criminal charges? Namely Armed Kidnapping.

[muir_redwoods]

So, if I understand the sheriff, preserving, protecting and defending the constitution is now probable cause,

Didn't every member of congress take an oath to do just that?

Can we call in a SWAT team on congress?

[TASMANIANRED]

Sue them.

[padre35]

Nice, hope they had mp5’s ...

[TASMANIANRED]

Endangered other children to take one out....Sue them.

[pandoraou812]

you see this?

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Uhm, how about the cop haters go first. My take on it is that the sheriff is a jackass. That’s the difference between you and me. I use and open mind, you are automatically against the police. Has something to do with a psychological disorder probably.

[Clint Williams]

"When American law allows federal and state agencies to come in a home and confiscate family, there is something wrong with our system," Shiflett said.

News to you, Mr. Shiflett, that one was lost during the child-abuse witchhunt of the 80s and 90s. It's all "for the children," don't you see?

Maybe you knew that. Maybe you didn't. Maybe you didn't care. Just be glad you got off easy -- this time. The precedents are there; maybe you can turn some of them back.

[familyop]

"His father, who says he was a medic in Vietnam,..."

That's why they hated him so much and tried to violate his family. I've seen a lot of that kind of envy of masculinity in former soldiers over the past 20 years or so. Some lifelong civilians have difficulty accepting that "tough guys" are much nicer and smarter than some of the clowns they see on TV.