Posted on 12/11/2008 3:52:51 AM PST by from occupied ga
Gwinnett County police said they accidentally broke down the door to the wrong house before going to the correct house and arresting a man on drug charges.
Gwinnett County police investigators intended to execute a no-knock search warrant at a home on Valley Spring Drive in Lawrenceville Wednesday morning. Police said the lead investigator mistakenly pointed out a home to the officers and once officers entered the home they realized they were in the wrong house.
VIDEO: Gwinnett County Police Break Down Door To Wrong House
The homeowner of the incorrectly targeted house told Channel 2 that having guns pointed at him was something he would never forget.
"(They) put my life, daughter’s life, my lady’s life in danger," said homeowner John Lewis.
Lewis said Gwinnett County investigators burst through his front door and ordered him and his girlfriend to the floor at gunpoint.
“It’s an experience to have one gun draw on you. It’s something else to have 15, 16 of them,” said Lewis.
Lewis said his 3-month-old baby saw the whole thing. “She was the calmest one,” said Lewis.
Police said once they realized their mistake the search was ceased and the homeowners were released. Police said the front door to the home was damaged during the process.
Fifteen minutes after bursting into Lewis' home, officers served a search warrant at the correct home on Valley Spring Drive. Police said the warrant was served after a three-month drug investigation.
Police arrested Efrain Pedruza, 31, and he was taken to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. Police said they found $24,000 in cash in the home.
Officials said the investigation is continuing. Police are paying for the repairs to Lewis' door.
You would think after a three month investigation that the cops would get the right house.
If they broke down my door and it was an honest mistake and they were looking for a dangerous criminal I could forgive that.
But a drug-war-gone-wild mistake would make my blood boil :-(
Same thing happened a couple of years ago in our town. Police got the wrong house, busted in, and beat up an elderly man in front of his terrified wife. Of course, they are still in gainful employ.
I’m not tarring ALL police with the same brush....don’t get me wrong. They deserve respect and admiration for what they do daily, putting their lives on the line for very little pay. Just some in ‘our parts’ seem to lack ‘communication skills’ and need further training.
Well, that's awfully nice of them.
/sarc
My first reaction would have been to reach for my gun if someone busted into my home. Anybody here who wouldn’t have?
I think reaching for a gun would be anyone’s first reaction.
This could have ended in tragedy. The police really screwed up trying to make this bust.
I suspect most would have, and then outnumbered 15 to one would have been killed. And of course the criminals would get away with it.
Can you honestly say you have never made a mistake on the job?
These drug raids happen every day all across the world. Occasionally, very occasionally, they are going to get the wrong house.
A single incident is not indicative of an epidemic of error.
Homeowner’s lucky they didn’t start out by killing all the family pets: that’s the SWAT-nazis’ usual M.O.
What if it were an "honest mistake" and they killed you or your wife or your child? Could you forgive that?
You’d be a fool if you did reach for a single gun while outnumbered 15 to 1. The best reaction is to stay seated and stay calm, while asking quietly, “Can we help you, Officer?”
Then when the guns are put away you can march into Police Headquarters and throw a temper tantrum.
Everyone one of these thugs should be fired. Animals like this have no business receiving a taxpayer funded paycheck to “police” the neighborhood. And no, I don’t care that it was a mistake. Mistakes like this are way too common and it’s high time that severe examples are made of the perpetrators.
Me too.
And mine's not loaded with those little rounds that a Level II vest will stop, either...
It’s far from a “single incident”. I suspect as long as it happening to somebody else, it’s ok with you.
With this phone baloney "argument" I'm trying to decide if you're just naive or dishonest. My mistakes do not have the potential to kill anyone. My mistakes don't terrorize anyone. My mistakes don't break down the doors of my neighbors. How would you feel if you were the recipient of their "mistake?" (provided of course that the didn't kill you in an "honest mistake"_
That didn't happen, did it? The police don't start randomly shooting on these raids.
“Police said they found $24,000 in cash in the home.”
Which goes to the Police Dept. discretionary fund?
Doesn't matter - no police were hurt, so everything is OK.
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