Scott County deputy fires shots during raid on wrong house

star tribune ^ | 5 Jan | KATIE HUMPHREY

[marktwain]

A domestic dispute 911 call prompted a Scott County deputy to shoot after he says the occupants hollered that they had a gun. No one was injured.

By KATIE HUMPHREY, Star Tribune

Last update: January 5, 2009 - 11:07 PM

A Scott County deputy responding to a call of a domestic dispute burst into a house and, when the occupants yelled that they had a gun, fired several shots.

The house, however, was the wrong building. The call had come from a second building on the property, in the 23000 block of Logan Way. No one was injured in the shooting.

"My impression is they thought that somebody was breaking into their house," Scott County Sheriff Kevin Studnicka said. "They didn't realize it was a deputy."

Studnicka said the deputy was sent to the address to respond to the disturbance call, which came in about 5 p.m. A knock on the door of the house went unanswered, so he forced his way in through the front door. Two men living in the house announced they had a gun, and the deputy fired, Studnicka said.

The incident comes just weeks after the city of Minneapolis agreed to a settlement of more than $600,000 for a raid on the wrong residence in 2007. In that instance, the SWAT team, acting on wrong information, exchanged fire with Vang Khan in his north Minneapolis home. Khan thought the officers were criminal intruders.

Katie Humphrey • 952-882-9056

[marktwain]

Very interesting. Does anyone have a link to a direct story about Vang winning a $600,000 dollar lawsuit. I think it is highly significant because he used a shotgun to great effect to protect his house from the police, who invaded it because of making a mistake about an address.

One of the primary purposes of a warrant is to insure that the property owner would know that the search is official, and not just some pretext. Obviously, that purpose is ignored when the police break into a place without allowing the residents to respond and inspect the warrant before allowing the officers entry.

[coloradan]

It’s interesting that the police response to a domestic call is a “raid.” Why not just call in an airstrike?

[coloradan]

Two men living in the house announced they had a gun, and the deputy fired, Studnicka said.

An interesting criterion for use of deadly force.

Citizen: "I believe the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own guns."

Police response: Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!Bang!

[razorback-bert]

Lubbock SWAT ping.

[Doogle]

here ya go...note the name is different

http://www.startribune.com/local/36059839.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUncacyi8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

[Rebelbase]

Look$ like $omeone is gonna get rich in an upcoming law$uit.

[Travis McGee]

“My impression is they thought that somebody was breaking into their house,” Scott County Sheriff Kevin Studnicka said. “They didn’t realize it was a deputy.”

It might help if raiding cops wore ACTUAL POLICE UNIFORMS and not the increasingly popular semi-undercover cop thug chic.

[The KG9 Kid]

"Whoops... Sorry, citizen. We thought you were someone else" PING

Click the link to be added to the "Whoops. Sorry, citizen. We thought you were someone else" PING list.

[org.whodat]

It might help if raiding cops wore ACTUAL POLICE UNIFORMS and not the increasingly popular semi-undercover cop thug chic.

What, then their little thing would not get hard and they would not get off, if you know what I mean!!!

[panaxanax]

I am nearing the point that I fear the Police as much as I fear the criminals.

[org.whodat]

You have reason to!!! Some of the crap they pull just would not happen to people with normal minds.

[thefactor]

let’s compare your earlier thread about a hero cop killed in the line of duty to this thread. Think it’ll get more than 16 posts?

[Oztrich Boy]

My impression is they thought that somebody was breaking into their house," Scott County Sheriff Kevin Studnicka said

Now why would they think that? Oh right, someöne was.

[dcwusmc]

Yer so right. Bump.

[seemoAR]

Is the life of a Policeman worth more than a timber cutter or a construction worker? The policeman’s job isn’t even in the top 10 most dangerous jobs. ;0)

[Titan Magroyne]

Thanks for the ping.

Here’s an earlier thread on this bust-in-the-door-and-shoot.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159413/posts

[Kimmers]

My hope is that people read it, offered prayers and did not necessarily leave a comment.....

I did offer my condolences yesterday to a cop I saw and he was pretty broken up. It sounds like he was loved and respected by people on the force and in the community....

[thefactor]

cannot compare those jobs. police officers jobs are dangerous, but in a somewhat different way. police officers are the only people regularly killed by gunfire, during peacetime, on a regular basis as part of their duties.

all other job related deaths, such as with fishermen or timber cutters, are accidental in nature.

[seemoAR]

Some people just want to be special. Maybe you can’t ( won’t) compare the jobs. I can and do. A policeman is a man just as I am. Dead is dead.

[thefactor]

if you dont see a difference between being murdered and accidentally falling out of a tree or off a boat, then you’re the one with the issue. ;0)