And what's wrong with my decision-making?
I shot the burglar, didn't I?
Posted on 07/14/2012 5:22:21 AM PDT by marktwain
Toledo police Lt. Randy Pepitone wanted to make sure Annie Huddleston was all right inside her central Toledo home.
Ms. Huddleston thought the man outside prying open her front door lock Thursday was a burglar.
Just as Lieutenant Pepitone was opening the door, Ms. Huddleston, 92, steadied in her hand her late husband's .357 Magnum revolver, and pulled the trigger just once.
The bullet blasted through a wall hitting the 54-year-old lieutenant in the side of the head.
"All of a sudden there was a loud explosion right next to my ear and I went down," the lieutenant said. "I could taste the blood, I saw it dripping on the porch, and then saw the bullet hole."
The lieutenant said he knew the wound was superficial so he crawled across the porch and jumped over the railing where he was treated by firefighters already on scene.
The crew took Lieutenant Pepitone to Toledo Hospital where he was treated and released.
Police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said Ms. Huddleston will not be charged with the shooting because "I don't think it meets all the culpability standards for felonious assault on a police officer."
Sergeant Heffernan said the department confiscated Ms. Huddleston's gun on Thursday morning.
"Lieutenant Pepitone is very lucky," Sergeant Heffernan said. "Another centimeter over and it could have been a very different story."
(Excerpt) Read more at toledoblade.com ...
No one should be forcing a citizens door, without a court issued warrant. I doubt they had one or she would have been charged.
And they certainly had no reason to confiscate her gun.She will likely need it now. She proved she could use it and hit where she aims.
It almost sounds like there's something phoney about the cops story.
Recently, my elderly aunt passed away while asleep at her home. When she failed to show up for a meeting, the police were called. When they arrived at her home, the would ONLY look into the windows and knock on the door but WOULD NOT break down the door as they stated, “That would be considered burglary for breaking into her home.” They did NOT enter until a neighbor with a key to my aunts home was summoned. The laws must be entirely different in different states.
Oooops, I mistakenly called this a “no-knock raid” in a previous thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2906440/posts?page=10#10
Mea culpa.
And very stupid.
The cop’s story sounds phony. Why was he breaking into her house? She was in the right and should sue the city to get her firearm back and also charge the cop with attempted breaking and entering. Maybe the dumb SOB will get a warrant next time or at least knock on the door.
Another MSM attempt to portray citizens as incompetent to own weapons. Mistakenly?
Shooting someone who has just forced open your door isn’t a mistake. If that someone happens to be a cop who hasn’t clearly identified himself as such, oh well.
They know the law and that its quite possible the owner of the home is armed. It is their responsibility to take appropriate precautions and clearly identify themselves.
I was more impressed that the geezer held a .357 with steady hands. (Not so steady on the decision-making though...)
Her gun needs to be returned and Sgt. Hefferton should be charged with breaking and entering , burglary.
“...
Ms. Huddleston called 911 after hearing what she thought was a burglar outside of her home about 12:30 Thursday morning...
Sitting in her living room, she tapped her hand on her chest Thursday afternoon to demonstrate how quickly her heart was beating while she waited for police...
When dispatchers put the call out to police crews, the lieutenant was already nearby...and routed himself to the home.
After doing a perimeter check and finding no signs of anyone trying to break in and after trying to contact Ms. Huddleston with no response, the lieutenant sent other officers to the back of the house while he forced entry.
That’s when Ms. Huddleston fired the gun...
...”
When my grandmother died in her condo, the police called my dad to open the door. She lived in an elderly community, and when she didn’t show up to their routine activities they called the police.
No I don't have any facts either but thought I would expound.
“The article does not detail what efforts were made to contact the homeowner before trying to force the door.”
Exactly. Did he knock first? Did he announce himself?
The story omits those crucial details.
Doesn't the Fourth Amendment apply to all states?
Did you read the whole article?
It says she called 911 to report what she thought was a break in. After the officer conducted a perimeter check he tried to contact her and she failed to respond. What was he supposed to do? Assume that everything was suddenly alright and leave?
People who call for police assistance and then fire upon them with an unlicensed hand gun should have the firearm confiscated.
“...
Ms. Huddleston called 911 after hearing what she thought was a burglar outside of her home about 12:30 Thursday morning...
Sitting in her living room, she tapped her hand on her chest Thursday afternoon to demonstrate how quickly her heart was beating while she waited for police...
When dispatchers put the call out to police crews, the lieutenant was already nearby...and routed himself to the home.
After doing a perimeter check and finding no signs of anyone trying to break in and after trying to contact Ms. Huddleston with no response, the lieutenant sent other officers to the back of the house while he forced entry.
That’s when Ms. Huddleston fired the gun...”
Why didn’t the officers call dispatch to contact the lady by telephone to tell her that there were officers outside the door and it was OK to let them in? At least that’s the way they do it on ADAM-12. (grin)
What the hell is that?
How about calling her on the phone, you know, the phone that she used to call 911 in the first place. How about turning on the emergency lights on the patrol car, using the siren, using the loudspeaker system?
People who call for police assistance and then fire upon them with an unlicensed hand gun should have the firearm confiscated.
What part of the Constitution requires a license to own a gun? A person doesn't need a license exercise other fundemental rigths like publish a newspaer, vote, or practice their religion.
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