Posted on 04/30/2008 9:27:20 AM PDT by BGHater
Brooklyn Park police were looking for a meth lab, but they found a fish tank and the chemicals needed to maintain it.
And a few hours later, when the city sent a contractor to fix the door the police had smashed open Monday afternoon, it was obvious the city was trying to fix a mistake. It happened while Kathy Adams was sleeping.
"And the next thing I know, a police officer is trying to get me out bed," she said.
Adams, a 54-year-old former nurse who said she suffers from a bad back caused by a patient who attacked her a few years ago, was handcuffed. So was her 49-year-old husband.
"They brought us here and said once we clear that area, you can sit down and you will not speak to each other," she said.
Police were executing a search warrant signed by Hennepin County Judge Ivy Bernhardson, who believed there was probable cause the Adams's home was a meth lab.
Berhardson, who was appointed to the bench less than a year ago, did not return KARE 11's phone calls.
"Ohmigod," Adams said as she recalled police breaking down her door and flashing the search warrant. "I just kept saying to them, 'you've got the wrong house.' "
Police soon realized that themselves.
"From a cursory view, it doesn't look like our officers did anything wrong," said Capt. Greg Roehl.
Roehl said the drug task force was acting on a tip from a subcontractor for CenterPoint Energy, who had been in the home Friday to install a hot water heater.
"He got hit with a chemical smell that he said made him light headed, feel kind of nauseous," Roehl said.
The smell was vinegar, and maybe pickling lime, which were clearly marked in a bathroom Mr. Adams uses to mix chemicals for his salt water fish tank.
"I said, 'I call it his laboratory for his fish tanks,' " Mrs. Adams said, recalling her conversation with the CenterPoint technician. "I'm looking at the fish tank talking to this guy."
Police say there was no extended investigation, just an interview with the subcontractor.
"Everything this person told us turned out to be true, with the exception of what the purpose of the lab was," Roehl said.
Adams is looking for a lawyer.
"I could say that about my neighbor - I smelled something when I went in their house," she said. "Does that make it right for them to go in there and break the door down and cuff you? I think not!"
Police say the detective who asked for the search warrant is an 8 ½-year veteran, but he just started working in the drug task force.
CenterPoint energy maintains the home was "unsafe" and it would have been "irresponsible" for the subcontractor not to report it.
Pointless. You're set in stone and I'd be wasting my time. Sorry to hear you were at Auschwitz.
Well we agree on that. Life in prison for the raiding cops was probably just a bit of hyperbole.
I and others find these raids to be another example of the gradual unraveling of the Bill of Rights, which Marines and other soldiers have fought to protect.
Semper Fi.
Check out the Cato institute data found on post #24-I was amazed at how frequent these “mistakes” are. Quite a few otherwise honorable cops and law-abiding citzens killed or maimed due to an error.
Not so sorry about the bad guys that happen to get smoked while dealing drugs etc, but the rule of law is the law of the land....due process is demanded.
Or maybe karma will smash yer door down at o'dark thirty and you'll be allowed to die on the alter of the WOsD...
But unlike some assholes I know, I wouldnt wish harm to your chilren for your naivete...
But unlike some assholes I know, I wouldnt wish harm to your chilren for your naivete...
Hey homegrown, how's it going? I thought we were done. Thanks for the reminder that you wouldn't wish harm to my children.
I took my baby girl [1 1/2 yrs] to see both grannies for a long weekend visit...
Her health, morals and future choices belong to her and God alone, I can only show her a faithful path...
Government will NOT save her from the crackheads down the street, or next door, daddy will be there first and God will need to help those who would force her to do anything against her wishes...
unfortunately, government would then turn me into the criminal...kinda ironic huh ???
We are on the same team, I just dont think prohibition will ever work, and only serves to empower government to 'create' criminals...
Our discussion, at least my insertion into it, wasn't about what is legal and what is illegal when it comes to drug use. I have not provided an opinion on that. I interjected because I wanted to defend police officers from being called Nazis. Police officers don't make the law, they are its defenders. I appreciate tremendously the service they provide to my community, and I believe that calling for life in prison for a cop simply because somebody upstream of him provided inaccurate information on a search warrant is irresponsible.
I'm sure everyone's mileage varies on this, but for myself, I've had a relatively good relationship with the cops. I had some run-ins in my teens, but at the time I was up to no good. Today they seem to not even see me go by. I think that cops look for something in a similar way that back yard dogs sense fear. I'm sure if they broke down my door in the middle of the night my opinion might differ... and I would consider that to be a tragedy.
You are probably correct in most cases...it would be akin to whipping a dog for p!$$!n on the sports section after trainin him to use the paper...
For myself and many others, its the fact that cops WONT question the warrant...they just blindly get pumped up and knock down doors...
my disgust of most cops is similar to that of most politicians...they are given very great power and authority to serve the interest of the people. then the lure of more power/$$$, or their personal disgruntlement with the 'job' changes them into little tyrants that are untouchable, and they become dangerous to innocents as well as the targeted criminals...
As far as the personal opinion of 'prohibition', one would have to favor it in order to condone no-knocks for less than 'emergency' situations...
my .02...
>>>>>CenterPoint energy maintains the home was “unsafe” and it would have been “irresponsible” for the subcontractor not to report it.
Based on the STUPID INANE logic, every Pet Smart store in the country should also be raided for their ‘dangerous’ ‘unsafe’ salt water fish tanks.
Sue, Sue, Sue until these government officials learn how to do their job professionally. I only wish in this case the officer could be held personally liable for violating the constitutional rights of the victims in this case — ‘unreasonable search and seizure” and false arrest. These people were seized, cuffed and unable to leave.
Center point is in full cya mode, whereas the cops just say ‘put some ice on it’...
I just read this almost 2yrs later after doing research on Brooklyn Park Police Department. And was very disturbed to find this happened to you as well.
on Novemebr 25th 2008, just a few months after your incident, they did the same on one of our family members ERIC KOLSKI.
Without researching what they got themselves into, they went on a tip (from a meth head user herself, trying to manipulate the system, just to get him out of the house), as they were fighting over ownership of the house.
She called in a false threat, and they went on her statement alone, which she was high at the time and lied saying her life was in harm, and 6 aggressive Brooklyn Park police officers broke into the house, shooting him instantly. 18, yes 18 times as he sat on his couch. Then they took his bullet tattered body and threw him down to handcuff him, as he laid there dead.
They informed the media that he was a women beater (but not once did he ever in 22 yrs hurt her. The only domestic calls over the years was from loud music etc. He never caused any harm, other then a DUI arrest, which they used that to post his picture as a horible wife beater, and claimed to “save” her life. They were also awarded the medal of honor for doing so! Just to make them look good. And in the video, officer Cudd was seen laughing.
They informed the media they had shot only twice. Everything they said to the media made them look like heros, which in fact, was the opposit.
They aggressively went in and immediately fired, emptying their clips on his face and heart.
We had to have a closed casket.
Later his ex girlfriend came forward and said he never once hurt her. She just wanted him arrested and out of the house.
I am going forward with this brutality incident to inform the public on what truly happened that cold night.
Eric was a loving man, who never wanted to hurt a sole. On the 911 tape, you can hear him in th e background crying asking why She had to call the police, “I didnt do anything wrong”, he cried. Then you hear the door crash open and instant fires! 18 rounds.
He was a donor, and they couldnt use anything, other then his legs and arm bones for bone mero (spelling?).
I once dated a cop for awhile in my past, and I know first hand, they get off on the excitement of the chase. “like a live video game”, one once said. Instead of being proactive, they are all reactive. Guilty until proven incident. So sad.......wish the media knew about the TRUTH about Brooklyn Park, and how they are the 3rd worst for brutality cases in Minnesota!!!!
We love and miss you every day Eric!! Happy 47th Birthday Eric. xo
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