Video surfaces of SWAT team shooting pet dog during raid

The Daily Caller ^ | 05/05/10 | Mike Riggs

[OldDeckHand]

The video of a Columbia, Mo., SWAT team shooting and killing a dog during a drug raid is now available online, due in part to the efforts of the Columbia Daily Tribune.

The video shows members of the Columbia Police Department executing a narcotics raid on the home of Jonathan Whitworth. While the raid, which occurred in February, only turned up a misdemeanor amount of marijuana and a glass pipe, the Columbia PD was able to charge Whitworth with second-degree child endangerment because a child lives in the home. That same child, age 7, was present when the Columbia PD conducted its raid and witnessed the police shoot both family pets — a pitbull, which was killed, and a corgi, which was shot in the leg — after they had safely entered the home.

“Did you shoot my f***ing dog?” Whitworth asks in the video. ”Oh my God, what the fuck did you do that for?”

Daily Tribune reporter Brennan David submitted a public information request for the video immediately after the charges were filed in February and was denied because the video was being used in criminal proceedings. “I knew that SWAT video was available and that SWAT teams use video. The deputy chief told me that he had watched it a few times,” David said.

[dragnet2]

His attitude concerns me more than the foolish display of firepower.

Trying to defend something that is really indefensible rarely goes over well.

[papertyger]

His attitude concerns me more than the foolish display of firepower.

I don't think these guys quite get the fact John Q. Public is becoming more concerned with LEOs who can ruin his life through not fault of his own (read: mistaken raid), and with functional impunity, than drug dealers who have NO authority, and frankly, John would rather shoot-it-out with...

[Nate505]

Wow, they got a gram of weed off the guy and got to shoot a dog? It must be a great day in copland!

[Hepsabeth]

Oh man...
You express concern with the military style of force displayed by these wannabe Rambos, and an identified LEO asks you when you’re going to stop defending drug dealers?

His attitude concerns me more than the foolish display of firepower.

**********

The casual dishonesty is disturbing. Scary to think of someone like that filling out reports and testifying in court.

[Lurker]

You made the assertion, now back it up with some facts. That or shut the hell up. The choice is yours.

[Lee'sGhost]

A chihuahua I can understand. But a corgi?

[WVKayaker]

You know, that is a really sick post. I have posted only facts but since you don't like my facts, you personally attack me.

Your post is sicker than most. You are using your personal bigotry to cloud your view. It isn't the first time, nor will it be your last, I'm sure. You're proud of your supposed upright and law-abiding stance.

THEY SHOT A DOG. THAT IS/WAS THE PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD. GET A LIFE...

Nobody on this thread has justified his drug use, nor personal history. The LEO THUGS enjoy shooting, and kicking ass. It's for their adrenaline buzz. They can't live without it!

They'll be coming soon enough... your type of guys with badges!

[Berlin_Freeper]

I said probably, which means taking it at face value.

Especially since a newspaper was instrumental in getting this video released. How many are working to get video of law enforcement being attacked by dogs?

That should be you since you insist on see some.

Are you really going to troll now on the lunatic insistence that law enforcement are not attacked by dogs??

For real??

A simple google news search shows you should shut up.

[zeugma]

The war on drugs is a war on the bill of rights...

That's been its purpose from the very beginning.

Bump for later reading. This thread ought to smoke out all the jackboots.

[headsonpikes]

“Did you shoot my f***ing dog?” Whitworth asks in the video. ”Oh my God, what the fuck did you do that for?”

Mr. Whitworth has not been following the news, evidently. The ritual shooting of canine "found-ins" has become SOP for all SWAT personnel - you know, like standing up for the national anthem.

American-style socialism has plenty of gratuitous brutality; in retrospect, it may be perceived as one of the crueller regimes of these times.

Not as bad as Communist China, of course, but still....

[headsonpikes]

My, you seem to be a nasty piece of work; but I suppose you’re just whiling away your pre-pension collecting days by jerking civilians’ chains on the intertubes.

Despicable.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I would certainly expect a dog bred to attack and kill to attack and kill..."

Dogs are carnivores. They are all bred to attack and kill. It's how they eat. They also tend to be territorial. Burst through the front door of their territory at odd hours, and they will act aggressively. Maybe even bark. They sometimes, shed too. It's what dogs do.

Cops that don't recognize that are too damn dumb to be cops. I don't mind cops defending themselves. I don't mind any person defending themself from what they perceive to be a legitimate threat...but any person who perceives a corgi as a legitimate threat has some serious issues.

[headsonpikes]

“Bump for later reading. This thread ought to smoke out all the jackboots.”

Well, one for sure...

[ColdWater]

You ‘forgot’ to mention it was a pit-bull. Funny how many times that has happened on this thread.

[ColdWater]

My, you seem to be a nasty piece of work; but I suppose you’re just whiling away your pre-pension collecting days by jerking civilians’ chains on the intertubes. Despicable.

Please be specific. If you are going to make a personal attack (in spite of forum rules) at least show basis.

[ColdWater]

Your post is sicker than most.

Which post?

[Joe 6-pack]

"You ‘forgot’ to mention it was a pit-bull. Funny how many times that has happened on this thread.

If people come crashing through the door uninvited, my shepherd would launch into them to. I used the generic word "dog" instead of the specific breed because most dogs are territorial and protective.

(that's one reason a lot of people have them)

[ColdWater]

Nobody on this thread has justified his drug use, nor personal history.

He was a multi-time convicted dealer.

[ColdWater]

I used the generic word "dog"

You also named a breed and it was NOT pit-bull. Go back and read your post.

[Joe 6-pack]

You know...I was making allowances and half-agreeing with you...I can see how an officer serving a warrant could see a barking pit as a legitimate threat...and I wasn't going to argue that point, in fact I was perfectly willing to cede it, apart from the legitimacy of the warrant or no-knock tactics in general.

But if you're too chicken-sh!t to go up against a corgi in full body army without blazing away, you'll not get my agreement, my concurrence or respect. Only my sympathy for being a small, insecure man, and defender of the same.