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.
More police-state BS.
Oh, there’s only one Brooklyn, and that’s Brooklyn NY. Sorry, MN
Hit it out of the park. Excellent
I wasn’t armed then...that’s why I am armed now!
As engraved on ATF knives.
I can’t get to the good part of ‘Unintended Consequences’ soon enough.
I’m with you on that.
Through 120F days
thats AFTER smashing in the door, probably in full ninja garb, screaming incomprehensible orders, again IN THEIR OWN PRIVATE RESIDENCE...
cops = Nazis
If it walks like a duck...
“I hope you have sucess in implement your solution.”
I’m realistic enough to know that the government will never give up this power, that’s not what they do. Really, the only thing us serfs can do is quietly celebrate when bad things happen to government thugs.
Oh, but their intent was good and that’s all that really counts isn’t it?
3:00 am to 4:00 AM seem to be choice hours for serving warrants nowadays.
Heads should roll (cops and/or judges) anytime one of these raids turns out to be a mistake. Contrary to some peoples’ opinion, I think it is a very big deal when police armed with (likely) automatic weapons and blinding tac lights burst into a house in the middle of the night.
And that they can do it on the word of a home improvement contractor is absolutely frightening. Imagine the possibilities if you have a neighbor you don’t like much....
Drama queens on parade, right here on FR.
There is nothing "interesting" about this police raid other than that it was a raid on a house where there was no illegal activity going on, but all of the DQs on this thread are acting as if it was something extraordinary. They raided the house and they were wrong about it. But they didn't do anything different than they would have done had the house been a meth lab, and in that case none of you would have been complaining.
But some of you are arguing that the police are Nazis for doing their jobs. Maybe karma will install a meth lab next door to you one day, and get to know your kids.
Now you are saying that for the police to execute a search warrant, it's breaking and entering.
For the police to handcuff a suspect before they have verified that the suspect is dangerous, it's unlawful imprisonment/kidnapping.
And even for the police to make a suspect sit down and not talk to anyone while a scene is being secured, that is now forced separation and deprived of counsel [very likely with a firearem or knee/foot in the back or neck.
Well whoopty doo.... Your ignorance knows few bounds. I would imagine that if someone over at DUmmieLand ever wants to make an FR version of DUmmie FUnnies, there's plenty of fodder right here in your last post.
Yeah, check it out. Here is the Bounty Page:
http://www.usmarshals.gov/assets/assets.html
From their website:
“The Marshals Service contracts with qualified vendors who minimize the amount of time an asset remains in inventory and maximize the net return to the government.”
I have nothing against going against criminals, drug dealers, organized crime, and other sorts, but I believe the lure of asset seizures is creating perverse incentives to violate due process and the Fourth Amendment.
What would be wrong with knocking on the door during a normal time? Why these tactics?
I don't know, I'm not in law enforcement. I suppose it's done in order to "get the drop" on them. And I'd love to see us discussing how to ensure that innocent people aren't exposed to this type of thing. If that house were full of coyotes smuggling illegals, or it were a rape dungeon, nobody would have said a word about tactics, and yet the tactics are the same regardless of the innocenc or guilt of the people in the house.
We need to stop trying to make it harder on cops who are trying to do a very difficult job, and start brainstorming for ideas on how to protect innocent people.
Well, I believe in Fourth Amendment protections. And I support law enforcment. But, there is no need to conduct these raids “to get the drop” on them.
Did you see the Cato study which provides HUNDREDS of examples of how these types of raids were conducted by MISTAKE?? Oftentimes resulting in death or injury to the occupants or the cops? And almost always the dog goes down immediately.
These operations involve alot of risk to the cops and the home occupants. They should only be authorized under very unusual circumstances, IMO. Busting a meth lab doesn’t require a midnite no knock raid.
Well, as your screen name suggests some familiarity with a chain of command, lawful orders and integrity, I will assume you understand that the folks executing bad orders, written with poor or sketchy details of fact, are just as responsible for the outcomes as the commander who made the order.
The judge who listended to the statement of the contractor-what an idiot-why would a contractor who smelled somethign be considered a root of probable cause?
How hard would it be to survielle the place for a few days, maybe get a wire tap or check financial records etc? Bust down a door at midnight and watch when some law-abiding guy or gall smokes a handful of cops for an assumed home invasion.
These antics are fueling bad guys MOs-we all must assume that the cops are making a mistake, when in reality it IS a home invasion in progress.
Thankfully I have a good relationship with my local deputies as a firearms trainer.
Cops are not to hide behind the badge, rather they must be held accountbale to the people-they must know this every time they act.
I wonder how a police chief would react if he started getting letters from local residents stating:
“I live at 123 Maple Lane, I am a law-abiding citizen. If anyone breaks down my doors at any time I will respond assuming a home invasion by criminals is occurring. If you feel the need to approach me for any reason, I will be glad to receive you or your officers, just come by and knock or call”, my day phone number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX.”
God Bless
MOLON LABE
ya know, I remember the Guards at Auschwitz saying the exact same thing, “they were just following orders and doing their jobs” maybe you could explain the difference to us??
Eyeamok
That all sounds fine to me. I only posted on this thread to counter the people who were calling for a life in prison sentence for police officers who conduct a raid where the person who was raided wasn't guilty of a crime.
just to make clear where I stand. I firmly believe that all Government Agents, defined as any person required to take an OATH to Uphold,Defend or Enforce The Laws and or The Constitution, Should in all cases be Held Without Bail and upon Conviction be Sentenced to the 5 times the Maximum Penalty under current law. Average citizens do not take an oath, however a Government Agent who violates the Law Should Always be held to a Higher Standard. Yes this includes Lawyers Too, after all they are Officers of the Court. But I also believe it should be a FELONY for ANY GOVERNMENT AGENT to make FALSE or MISLEADING STATEMENTS in All circumstances and all cases... And of Course I don’t believe they deserve any SPECIAL TREATMENT while Incarcerated, they should be in GENERAL POPULATION. All government Agents will think twice about violating their OATH if this were LAW.
Eyeamok
I think you have a good point there, and I agree 100%. In cases where there isn't an imminent threat to people's lives, discretion is the better path.
All of these views have been shaped by my Personal Involvement with Government Agents, And NO I do not have a Criminal Record.
Eyeamok
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