SWAT team invades wrong house; 2 hurt [brave Drug Warriors at work]

Houston Chronicle ^ | Nov. 22, 2002 | Associated Press

[MrLeRoy]

SAN ANTONIO -- Two people were injured when members of a San Antonio police SWAT team searching for guns and drugs entered the wrong apartment.

"We are sitting here and then all of them arrived," 20-year-old Salvador Huerta said. Huerta and two cousins were watching television when police shattered the back glass door Wednesday night.

"We were kicked and punched at least 20 times. I couldn't talk. I was good and scared."

Salvador Huerta suffered a broken front tooth and swollen face. His cousin, 19-year-old Marcos Huerta, was treated and released for a cut face and bruised head.

After realizing they had the wrong address, police apologized to the cousins and went to another apartment.

"Everything was done by procedure," Deputy Police Chief Rudy Gonzales in Friday's editions of the San Antonio Express-News. "It was just an honest mistake made by SWAT officers at the location."

Officials said the SWAT team members apparently were confused in the darkness by the group of look-alike buildings.

Police plan to meet next week to review the series of events.

Salvador Huerta said at least 12 officers entered the apartment.

The men in the apartment thought they were being robbed.

The cousins said the door was shot out with soft bullets and a concussion grenade was thrown inside, leaving a gaping hole and a black scar on the wall.

[MrLeRoy]

Wod_list ping

[xrp]

More reason to end the pathetic War on Drugs. Focus on treatment instead of prevention. Drugs are a product with demand from consumers, therefore there will always be supply.

[swarthyguy]

>>It was just an honest mistake made by SWAT officers at the location

They DO make a LOT of mistakes.

[Kerberos]

""Everything was done by procedure," Deputy Police Chief Rudy Gonzales in Friday's editions of the San Antonio Express-News. "

Yeah around here it's SOP to kick in wrong doors, beat people around a little, and then say "opps sorry."

[Hodar]

Salvador Huerta suffered a broken front tooth and swollen face. His cousin, 19-year-old Marcos Huerta, was treated and released for a cut face and bruised head.

"Everything was done by procedure," Deputy Police Chief Rudy Gonzales in Friday's editions of the San Antonio Express-News. "It was just an honest mistake made by SWAT officers at the location."

No, a mistake is dropping your toast. Assaulting two people is armed assault. Why are these officers any different than any other armed assailant who breaks into an office. To quote Stan Lee "With great power comes great responsibility"

[DainBramage]

suffered a broken front tooth and swollen face

Does not float with

"Everything was done by procedure,"

[chiefqc]

And the results will be, ah sorry now go away.

All want-to-be rambos.

[vin-one]

Nice find, and according to the Wodies', this almost never happens.
and is should be prosecuted separately.
yeah right police policing themselves works real well....

[MrLeRoy]

Maybe it should have been an INS raid?

Yes, all people with Hispanic names are illegal aliens, just like all people with Italian names are Mafiosi. And they all deserve all the beatings our brave Drug Warriors can dish out.

[PatrioticAmerican]

If someone is missing teeth, I'd say ssomeone was assaulted. "honest mistake"? Then, I guess, these idiots won't mind paying an honest restitution.

[vin-one]

Bump to Jedi-Girl List.......

jedi girl lives....

[jimt]

"Everything was done by procedure," Deputy Police Chief Rudy Gonzales in Friday's editions of the San Antonio Express-News. "

Apparently it's part of SA "procedure" to punch and kick folks you're arresting.

These drug pigs are totally out of hand. This is not police work, its pig work. Disgusting.

[FreeTally]

Huerta and two cousins were watching television when police shattered the back glass door Wednesday night.

WOO-HOO!!

Let's skip the front door, and go right to the back glass door, and break it, thus making it likely that the inhabitents will be more badly injured.

"Everything was done by procedure," Deputy Police Chief Rudy Gonzales

Maybe Rudy would care to show us what guidelines indicate that they should bust a glass door at the rear of the residence, instead of going to a wood or metal door at the front. I mean, this is suposed to be a surprise raid, but they come to a door that the inhabitants can see through!?!?

[FreeTally]

Reply to idiotic comment:Yes, all people with Hispanic names are illegal aliens, just like all people with Italian names are Mafiosi. And they all deserve all the beatings our brave Drug Warriors can dish out.

The blatant racism that is allowed on this forum is staggering, isnt' it?

[TSgt]

Teeth knocked out?

"Paging Johnny Cochrane, Johnny Cochrane. Please pickup the white courtesy phone next to the broken tooth."