Posted on 08/20/2020 5:08:23 PM PDT by Theoria
Three Metro Nashville police officers have had their law enforcement powers restricted after they improperly forced open the door of a family's home Tuesday around dawn, Interim Police Chief John Drake said.
The officers who've been decommissioned announced themselves, then began using a battering ram as they executed a warrant in search of evidence connected to a teenager wanted in a property crimes investigation, Drake said Wednesday at a news conference. They were not there for a violent criminal or drug raid, he added.
Officials later learned the teenager had not lived at that address in several months, he said. No one was injured in the incident. "In all candor, this shouldn't have happened," Drake said. "This mother and her children should not have been subjected to this type of behavior from a police department."
The case comes as police actions and policies across the United States are under scrutiny following the in-custody death in Minneapolis of George Floyd. The Metro Nashville department has tightened its search warrant rules following the episode. Decommissioning is a non-disciplinary, administrative action that temporarily removes an officer's policing authority, the force's online manual states. CNN has reached out to the three officers and the union for comment.
Officers were operating on 'stale information'
The officers were operating on "stale information" when they knocked on the door of the apartment just after 6 a.m., Drake said. In body-camera footage that the chief said "greatly disturbed" him, the officers announce themselves and pound on the door before they begin forcing it open with a battering ram.
A young woman can be heard inside the home talking to the officers as they breach the door. "What is going on?" she asks. As police continue forcing the door open, she screams, "I don't have any clothes on!"
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Best idea I’ve heard in a long time.
Increasingly the answer is yes. Yes, they do.
If a drug dealer's stash is small enough to be disposed of by flushing down a toilet, he's not worthy a player for a no-knock raid in the first place. The guy is small-time.
There's two kinds of drug dealers. Those who need forklifts and those who don't.
I would say a no-knock raid should only be used for immediate life-saving measures. Somebody is going to die right this very moment if we don't kick the door in to stop it.
Nothing else.
Yes, that is one possibility - so, why did they no-knock raid to find a teenager (not property, just the person) for a non-violent property crime?
Congratulations! You’ve just won the no-knock lottery!
In this case, even if the information had been completely accurate, they still would have had no reason whatsoever for using a battering ram against a residence for a property crime. Someone should take a close look at this PD, and find out why these bozos thought it was proper procedure.
Damn! You actually found a use for no-knock warrants that I can get fully behind! Didn't think it was possible.
If the quantity of drugs is so small that it can just be flushed, then the 'crime' doesn't warrant a no-knock raid.
A three pound bag of cocaine isn't a large amount?
yup
You are aware that every sewer system has access holes where the “evidence” could be intercepted, right?
No-knock raids should ONLY be used in hostage situations. Period.
Judges and lawmakers both provide checks and balances to the process.
None of those parties have any skin in the game. If the process results in the failure of a wrong address or property damaged, their is no liability to any of those parties. Property damage or misfortune is paid out by the taxpayer if at all. The police involved have a different treatment under the law in any wrong doing from actions performed.
They should. They have to put their lives on the line when dealing with violent criminals.
Yes, oppose corrupt police officers. But, don't create a situation that is so unfriendly that no one wants to be an officer.
Out-of-control crime is a far greater problem than corrupt police. It's gotten infinitely worse thanks to BLM and liberal mayors and DAs.
You'll have a hard time getting that load to flush with modern toilets. LOL.
Still waiting to hear your justification of a no-knock raid being used in a non-violent property crime investigation where the objective was to arrest a teenager and not to catch drug dealers in the act.
Tell us how the teenager could have flushed himself down a toilet, if you would. I’d like to hear just how that would have worked.
I never tried to justify it.
The issue is the no-knock warrants in general. They are necessary in certain circumstances.
All it would take is a several flushes. With a no knock warrant, there would be plenty of time for that.
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