Apology Issued After Officers Raid Wrong Home (SWAT in Clifton, Colorado)

Denver CBS Local Channel 4 ^ | September 15, 2016 6:09 PM | CLIFTON, Colo. (CBS4)

[Texas Fossil]

The incident happened on Tuesday at Coronado Court in the town of Clifton in Mesa County.

Police said they thought they were targeting a methamphetamine operation and instead forcefully entered a couple’s condo with five children inside.

Mesa County and Grand Junction SWAT members surrounded the condo and broke down the front door and destroyed windows as they breached the house.

[Rusty0604]

The only time I think this SWAT action is necessary is if someone’s life is in immediate danger.

[faithhopecharity]

agreed!

[Rusty0604]

That is not justice.

[Flick Lives]

That’s even better.

[Vendome]

So, they just wantonly break into innocent people’s homes, without doing any surveillance?

[-YYZ-]

An apology is not sufficient. Someone dropped the ball big time on this, and there should be real consequences for them.

[sparklite2]

Just another day in the War on Us.

[servantboy777]

>>When this kind of force is used, it must be clear what the target really is.
Otherwise, tragic results can happen.<<

You mean like tossing flash bang grenades in baby cribs or off’n “accidentally” the innocent owner of the wrong home?

I say...de-militarize our local law enforcement!

Besides, raiding a home using this kind of force for drugs?

[TBP]

Oops.

[servantboy777]

Conservative legal organization tracking these sorts of things. It's not just one-zie two-zie.

It's happening often. Needs to stop.

https://www.rutherford.org/

[Texas Fossil]

Thanks, you chose a good choice of source for related information;

(Police) Militarization Is More Than Tanks and Rifles: It’s a Cultural Disease, Acclimating the Citizenry to Life in a Police State

http://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/militarization_is_more_than_tanks_and_rifles_its_a_cultural_disease_acclima

[jiggyboy]

I don’t see anything about a flashbang grenade.

BTW it looks like they’re taking responsibility for the screw-up:

“The residents of the condo told CBS4 they are in shock over what happened, but they are happy the sheriff’s office is replacing all of the broken windows and front door. The office also says they will pay to put in new carpet because of broken glass that remains on the carpet from the raid.”

[Tijeras_Slim]

LOL! This makes us old, doesn’t it? ;)

[Svartalfiar]

just saying.... I am definitely beginning to question just how many of these forced police break=ins are really really necessary (or even the best tactic)

SWAT teams were first developed as a response to armed bank robberies / riot control. And when you give someone a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail. SWAT teams have been spread out way too much and now every little town has one. Their role should be completely limited to hostage situations or scenarios like major armed robberies. Like others have posted, no-knock raids should be simply waiting for the dude to walk out of the house, unless there's hostages present.

SWAT teams should also be only on a county level (under the Sheriff), except for maybe some of the bigger major cities. Maybe.

[achilles2000]

Jail time = real consequences. It would sober our little fascist ninja warriors up quickly.

[Texas Fossil]

We’ve all read about these cases. But police must remember that each time this happens, it is not a movie on TV, it affects real people, many are not guilty of anything.

This flies against our cultural standards. Serious effort must undertaken to prevent this and worse abuses.

Nothing is said about what can be the driving force behind aggressive police action. In some states and local areas Asset Forfeiture is a money motive for police to pursue these cases with unusual zeal.

Article about that in CO:

Colorado Starts Reforming Civil Asset Forfeiture Law

https://selfgovern.com/colorado-starts-reforming-civil-asset-forfeiture-law/

[DesertRhino]

Nothing wrong with what happened in Philly back during the MOVE standoff. They were in a hardened bunker, blaring Cuban panther propaganda 24/7, shot a couple of cops, and randomly fired rifle shots down the street. And MOVE might not have burned had they not fired at firemen, and had not let months of garbage pile up in the house.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I am definitely beginning to question just how many of these forced police break=ins are really really necessary

Possibly 10% are necessary.

The rest are just to justify the money spent on those expensive SWAT toys.

[faithhopecharity]

the “civil asset forfeiture” business is a TREMENDOUS BLOT on America ....
police or state agents can just steal whatever you got

(and it probably happens MORE “off the books”.. without invoking any “civil asset forfeiture” rules...)

we need to find a way to put an end to the “civil asset forfeiture” racket (robbery under color of law)
AND .... that’s the easy part...........the harder part will be to figure out ways to screen out corrupt cops and state agents of various types that can just grab your stuff, money, whatever...deny taking it....and keep it all

Just as police have to be cautious with each and every person they stop...some of us law-abiding good respectable folks have learned we have to be cautious with every police officer or governmental official we encounter

the country’s been going downhill a lot these last 5 or 6 years especially.....

[faithhopecharity]

ALSO,
whenever a government agent secures (or forces) entry into your home or office, s/he can steal whatever you got
(especially if s/he is armed... and maybe threatening possible arrest or whatever)

the best thing to do....even just to avoid any simple misunderstandings... is to keep them all OUT ....
if they need to talk with you, they can stay outside or telephone you, or you can call them