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.

[moehoward]

LOl!!!

[Looking4Truth]

"Thank you drug warriors for turning police departments into para-military units."

Yeah, I've got to laugh when I hear cops talking about 'civilians'. Unless you are in the U.S. Armed Forces, you are a civilian as well.

Buncha' wannabees....

[exhaustguy]

I am a non-pot smoking libertarian who thinks it should be legalized. Honest I only took a few puffs when I was 13, and I did not inhale (in spite of the fact that my dad grew the stuff).

[SW6906]

No sorry necessary, I just thought it was funny! ;o)

[kanawa]

'

[randomhero97]

Never smoked before in my life, but I don't go around telling others what to do with their body. That's the job for statists.

Your attempt at strawman doesn't excuse the fact that the "drug war" is used to justify militaryeqse type raids on American citizens.

[the invisib1e hand]

I personally think its just cops so scared, so terrified to do the job they feel the need approach everything they do as a deadly force situation.

Yeah...that's it. Just like that guy from Connecticut being upset that his home was foreclosed.

[OldDeckHand]

"can’t wait until all the law’n’order types pipe in."

I'm normally a "law & order" type myself, former military prosecutor. BUT, I have real problem with no-nocks in the war on drugs, or even nighttime raids. No-nocks have their place in law enforcement - to arrest known violent offenders, not to bust the neighborhood dope guy.

They could have EASILY waited until first thing in the morning and pinched this guy when he went to get the newspaper, or went to work. Instead, they foolishly turned what should have been an incident free arrest, into a firefight in a home that housed young children. It's stupid, in the extreme.

[the invisib1e hand]

power junkies gone wild alert.

[the invisib1e hand]

power junkies gone wild alert.

[Filo]

Just another example of the 99% giving the 1% a bad name.

[the invisib1e hand]

[gaijin]

He who is kind to the cruel is soon cruel to the kind.

—The Bible

[Crim]

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

[muddler]

In a few years when that boy is all grown up he will still remember the cops that shot his pets. Nice work guys.

[bamahead]

So having a minute amount of pot in the house with a child is ‘endangerment’, but firing weapons in a closed space at the family pet in FRONT of the child is just groovy.

[microgood]

Thank you drug warriors for turning police departments into para-military units. To hell with every damn one of you along with these jackboots.

When trying to determine who is more damaging to this country, I would say it is a tie between drug warriors and liberals.

Both are guilty of treason.

[dragnet2]

Bookmark

[Grunthor]

Why SHOOT a corgi? WTF is a corgi going to do?

[Grunthor]

Yours is the smartest post on this thread so far.