Posted on 09/18/2009 9:30:23 AM PDT by George - the Other
"I remember thinking, as I kneeled at gunpoint with my hands bound on my living room floor, that there had been a terrible, terrible mistake."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I meet Cheye a few months ago when I testified before the Maryland State Senate Judiciary Proceedings Committee, concerning the SWAT team reform bill.
While my false arrest incident didn't involve SWAT, there were many similar characteristics to his ordeal, and similar ordeals that have plagued Maryland residents.
What I find extremely worrisome is that I was told that the State Attorney General, Douglas Gansler, is not prosecuting these detectives because he is "too busy," in spite of the fact that they committed multiple instances of misconduct and perjury and were in blatant violation of the Fourth Amendment.
As demonstrated by their actions, that they think that they are above the laws that the rest of us are bound to.
And apparently this is true, because they are still loose in our society, to rain their misconduct upon other unsuspecting citizens. Plus they serve as an example to others of like disposition, that they can get away with these crimes.
What's especially disturbing is that the D/Sgt Aaron Chapman, who lead the team and oversaw the falsified statements and planting of evidence to wrongfully incriminate me, is now working for the Department of Homeland Security. As an example, the MD Transportation Authoriety Police News release that announced my arrest said that these detectives had conducted an Internet investigation before descending upon my house. During the course of our lawsuit, our deposition revealed that there was NO investigation. This was just one lie of dozens.
It is a terrifying thought that a person of this ilk, who thinks nothing of ruining someone's life with lies and false evidence, is able to do this over and over.
As Cheye Calvo states, "You think this can't happen to you - Think again.
George F. Spicka Baltimore, MD
But I've always been something of a trendsetter.
WHAT? You didn’t take them out with your CLAYMORE?
Falling down on the job! ;-)
This needs to stop.
SWAT types are using home invasions for simple arrests and someone is going to get hurt and or killed.
I hope the guy is able to buy a small island after this lawsuit is settled.
If your account of the incident is accurate you can bring a civil action in Federal Court under 18USC242.
Going to get hurt? These morons have been killing people for years.
Am I proposing killing police officers? Of course not.
Am I proposing that SWAT behavior is oftentimes illegal and a violation of civil rights? Yes
I AM proposing that if someone dies in one of these unfortunate incidents, it should be the person(s) who illegally and incorrectly instigated the incident, not the innocentt person.
Follow-up on your area of interest?
The deterioration of personal freedom is a problem in this country. There is a certain random cruelty inherent in our existence which no amount of lawsuits will ever correct. The universe, God, the devil trickster, random chance, call it what you will but we are subject to forces beyond our control. If the police are idiots in your locale then perhaps that can be addressed, but police will continue to make fatal errors until the end of our time on this earth.
I have a friend that got a ‘visit’ because a neighbor saw him bringing his new basement flourescents inside. The cops kicked his shins until he fell and forced his family to the ground at gunpoint. Not even a ‘sorry’ and he probably won't win the lawsuit.
Prosecuting people for possession practically guarantees corruption since an object turns one into a criminal. Since there is no victim and such a small burden of proof, it can be easily planted on you and turn you into a criminal.
For example:
Think of someone jealous tossing a crack pipe under your seat. You get pulled over and simple indisputable possession can be a felony. That’s all it takes and I’ve seen it ruin people’s lives more than once.
As you well know, that's BS.
Prosecutors, as officers of the court, are SUPPOSED to be on the side of the law. Cops are too, for that matter. But most prosecutors view themselves as being on the side of law enforcement, that they're on the same team and the actual, written law is secondary.
First and foremost, they protect each other. The law and citizens be damned.
“The universe, God, the devil trickster, random chance, call it what you will but we are subject to forces beyond our control.”
In many (but not all) cases, carelessness and lying are the main factors, and they are within human control.
“If the police are idiots in your locale then perhaps that can be addressed, but police will continue to make fatal errors until the end of our time on this earth.”
True. But perhaps they should be limited to only one opportunity to do so.
Police departments have demonstrated time and again that they cannot properly meter the use of SWAT teams. Therefore, SWAT should be ended nationwide.
When we have long, low-intensity wars, cops become soldier-like, and soldiers become cop-like.
Bad for all.
Oh brother! Drop the Ouija board and get a clue - these attacks are a coordinated, country-wide POLICY of public desensitization to government home invasions. SWAT teams do not follow the movements of the stars (except sometimes when they're trying to find the right house).
“First and foremost, they protect each other. The law and citizens be damned.”
It has been a bitter and an eye-opening experience as to just how helpless the average citizen is when seeking justice for crimes committed by them by the state or its agents.
However, just like Cheye Calvo, I am not through with this. I’m going to keep pushing, probing, and investigating.
George
Exactly.
We gave the cops a “war” and they’re fighting it like one.
WE MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
End the “War on (Some) Drugs” and incidents like these will diminish. You never see these things happening over zoning ordinances, noise disturbances or parking. Well, not mostly.
3 weeks ago here in New Mexico we had a man hunt going on 9pm to 1 Am city,state police and county sheriffs.
Fearing a repeat of what happened to my parents I turned on every light stepped out under the light hands out and asked what was going on.
After a great talk with a non swat sheriff, I told him to search my barn and the property but not the house and if he needed anything else knock on the front door under the light because any other door would be met with a shot gun., just an LEO doing his job and respecting those he served, as we respect them.He thanked me laughed and continued on, my point being, he was a regular guy, not hopped up as a assault team member
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