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Couple says SWAT team made mistake, sheriffs disagree
BayNews 9 ^ | Saturday, February 09, 2013 | Cait McVey, Reporter

Posted on 02/09/2013 2:04:51 PM PST by rarestia

A Pasco County couple made headlines this week after they say a SWAT team wrongfully busted into their home. But now, the sheriff's office is speaking out.

Carl and Juanita Stark were sitting at their Moon Lake home Tuesday night, when they say they got the fright of their lives.

"I heard the window break, the door busted open and there was a big flash and a bang," said Carl.

"It scared me to death. I thought somebody had broke into the house," said Juanita. "And I thought oh Lord, they're going to kill us all."

But it wasn't a robber. It was the Pasco County SWAT team looking for 36-year-old Aaron Vineyard, who investigators believe is the head of a massive burglary ring on the west side of the county.

Vineyard wasn't there. Infact, it's not even his house.

The Starks say he lives next door and the SWAT team made a mistake. One they say could've put their lives in jeopardy because Carl is on oxygen and one spark could've sent the whole house up in flames.

"They knew Aaron Vineyards lived over here. Because they have been to his house, they have talked to him," Juanita said. "And no. They will never convince me that they thought he lived here."

Not so fast, said Sheriff Chris Nocco. Vineyard is Carl and Juanita's grandson and it's their address on his license. On top of that, the sheriff said a reliable informant led investigators to their home specifically.

"I think what the citizens need to realize is this home had been involved in the burglary ring," said Sheriff Nocco. "The person that we're looking for, Aaron Vineyard, had purchased guns in that house."

The Starks say this never happened.

Investigators finally caught up with Vineyard on Friday at his girlfriends house and arrested him. As for barging into the Stark's home, Nocco said the SWAT team had no choice.

He said Vineyard is a self proclaimed member of the Aryan Brotherhood and is known to carry a gun.

"This could've turned into a violent situation against law enforcement," Nocco said. "The person who should apologize is Aaron Vineyard."

Right now, Vineyard is charged with grand theft and dealing with stolen property, along with drug charges.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office expects more charges, as well as more arrests, to come.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: banglist; swat
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To: ClearCase_guy

Already happening in SoCal. Guy named Dorner. Ex military, ex cop. The whole area is on eggshells....


41 posted on 02/09/2013 4:27:06 PM PST by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57 returning after lurking since 2000))
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To: ClearCase_guy

42 posted on 02/09/2013 4:39:34 PM PST by Lazamataz (Republicans have the same policies as the Democrats, except for the part where they win elections.)
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To: WildHighlander57

Did they shoot the dog?


43 posted on 02/09/2013 4:41:31 PM PST by Taylor42
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To: pallis

Did you know that the Department of Education has a SWAT team???
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-w-whitehead/swat-team-mania-the-war-a_b_875967.html

WHY???????????????


44 posted on 02/09/2013 4:50:11 PM PST by irishtenor (Everything in moderation, however, too much whiskey is just enough... Mark Twain)
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To: PhiloBedo
What ever happened to doing a little detective work and picking up the guy going or coming? Breaking down a door and rushing in is just asking for trouble.

Matthew Bracken, in Enemies Foreign and Domestic, had a scenario where one guy got the attention of someone they wanted to arrest by addressing them by name as if they were an old friend, and, once their attention was had, the subject was essentially taken out from behind (knocked out). Why can't they do this?

In my home town of Nampa, ID, there was a guy the police had linked to a brutal double murder several years back. They figured out his schedule, and then had a patrol car pull him over for a simple traffic stop (he didn't know he was wanted at this point). Once the guy pulled over, cops zoomed in from several directions and detained him. It was quick, easy, and didn't put his family, or anyone else in danger.

45 posted on 02/09/2013 4:54:12 PM PST by IYAS9YAS (Rose, there's a Messerschmitt in the kitchen. Clean it up, will ya?)
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To: rarestia
"They knew Aaron Vineyards lived over here. Because they have been to his house, they have talked to him," Juanita said. "And no. They will never convince me that they thought he lived here."

Not so fast, said Sheriff Chris Nocco. Vineyard is Carl and Juanita's grandson and it's their address on his license. On top of that, the sheriff said a reliable informant led investigators to their home specifically.

I don't see any denial that they knew he lived next door. I don't see any denial that they had been there and talked to him in person. Apparently they put more trust in their "reliable informant" than their own lying eyes and ears.

46 posted on 02/09/2013 5:14:32 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
And getting the wrong address from a “reliable informant”?

I'd hate to think what their unreliable informant would come up with.

47 posted on 02/09/2013 5:18:38 PM PST by Flick Lives (We're going to be just like the old Soviet Union, but with free cell phones!)
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To: School of Rational Thought
There are better things to do like clearing the streets of newspaper delivery people.

This is what happens when the police run out of dogs to shoot.


48 posted on 02/09/2013 5:22:32 PM PST by Flick Lives (We're going to be just like the old Soviet Union, but with free cell phones!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
The cops won't like it. And maybe the guy fighting back will be sort of a leftist loon. But some of us are going to see the police running around, scared of their own shadow and we're gonna cheer. They've got it coming, because they don't police themselves. Jack-booted thugs think they can do anything they like.

Yeah, I think we're seeing that. They've really brought it on themselves.

49 posted on 02/09/2013 10:09:26 PM PST by zeugma (Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)
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To: Jack Hammer; GladesGuru
We need more SWATs, not fewer!

Do you know how many overdue library books, tapes, and DVDs are out there in America? Until the Public Library gets its very own, door-smashing, dog-killin', wrong address SWAT operations, this intolerable situation will continue to run wild! The Sanitation Department needs SWATs, too. Have you any idea how many people put plastic in the cardboard bins, cans in the plastics container? These mad dogs must be stopped. Stopped cold, I tell you ... with cold black steel.

But there are times when SWAT operations are necessary; for instance, if you want to actually visit Moon Lake for some reason. You should know that (a) every house in Moon Lake (well, rusty trailers and double-wides ca 1957, anyway) there looks the same .... sort of abandoned ... with either a broken down white Chevy van, or yellow school bus full of chickens in the front yard (b) is apparently largely inhabited by tattooed former, present, and future criminals of every sort who look a whole lot like extras rejected by "Deliverance" for not having enough teeth, or at best (c) folks who are, or should be, in the Federal Witness Protection Program. IMHO, Sheriff Nocco and his intrepid deputies were probably quite brave to even enter Moon Lake without at least 15 minutes of TOT artillery preparation.

Let's just call this little visit to the wrong ... but by all reports typical ... Moon Lake house a draw, shall we? Now in re: Every overweight, moronic, superannuated cop these days fancies himself a Navy SEAL, and wants to get dressed up in his gear and break down doors.

You can blame that directly on the overly exciting SWAT Magazines available at your local country convenience store, or supermarket. They are just chock full of the coolest black Kevlar gear, weapons of mass destruction, and instructive tactical articles. No wonder the Barney Fifes get overly stimulated ... not to mention those librarians.

PS: FL Travel Tip: Avoid Pasco County, but if you must, stay within a mile of the Gulf. The area North of Tarpon Springs has not been completely pacified. In fact, in the best gated neighborhoods in Moon Lake, the residents fly to their homes, which are on runways rather than streets and have built-in hangars instead of garages.

50 posted on 02/09/2013 10:37:57 PM PST by Kenny Bunk (The Obama Molecule: Teflon binds with Melanin = No Criminal Charges Stick)
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To: Kenny Bunk

You’ve made an excellent suggestion - our libraries need SWAT teams to collect overdue books and fines.

This needs to be brought to the attention of the nation’s governors and mayors.


51 posted on 02/09/2013 11:22:31 PM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: Kenny Bunk

“In fact, in the best gated neighborhoods in Moon Lake, the residents fly to their homes, which are on runways rather than streets and have built-in hangars instead of garages.”

Thanks - now you have done it!

With your above line as justification, the Pithecan Parasites in Uniform will be able to whine and snivel until they get F-22’s to deal with residents with runways.

IMHO, the Jack Booted Knuckle Draggers will now feel justified in requesting A-10’s to deal with potential criminals with ATV’s. After all, those Moonies may not have seating for all their criminal clan in those private jets. Can’t have any Moonies escaping the long arm and flat foot of Sam SWAT, can we?


52 posted on 02/10/2013 8:11:47 AM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles."..)
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To: Jack Hammer; GladesGuru
I am too busy to respond to your sensitive posts, Gentlemen.

I am an organizing a SWAT for The Association of Montessori Schools. TOP SEC. We are raiding Moon Lake trailer homes looking for missing cookies and toys.

We did, as The Guru suggested, ask for the F-22 in order to take out the better residential district, where after all, the Montessori malefactors are liable to be holed up. Barry and Janet said, "No." (It seems the US Gov only owns 5 F-22s, and 4 are in the shop, with one on the way home from Superbowl). But they did send us armed drones.

53 posted on 02/11/2013 7:13:57 AM PST by Kenny Bunk (The Obama Molecule: Teflon binds with Melanin = No Criminal Charges Stick)
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To: Oatka
"Same thing was asked about Waco."

Koresh went into town frequently so he could have been arrested on the child abuse charges out in public with no hassle. Further, Koresh offered to allow the ATF to inspect the Davidians' weapons and paperwork long before the siege took place. but The ATF Cowboys wanted their big dog and pony show instead. See, you can't get all "Ramboed Up" if the suspects cooperate and you find no evidence.

54 posted on 02/11/2013 7:37:18 AM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: Kenny Bunk

” But they did send us armed drones.”

Arms they have, but before you sign for their delivery, give ‘em an I.Q. test - probably, they will be TSA rejects.

Democraps don’t lie as we all know. Buuuut, some times they tell less than the whole truth. Considering the fact that TSA employees are Fast Food Industry reject, those TSA rejects are likely to be management ‘challenges’.

Ask one if it is day or night and they will drone on for several minutes, such as “Why you akin’ me dat” - but in a slow, slurred, monotonous droning voice.

The Regime sent you ‘drones’. “Armed” ones, too.

OBAMA - SIEG HEIL!

Oops, make that OBAMA - Yes We Can!


55 posted on 02/11/2013 8:56:26 AM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles."..)
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To: Paladin2

Absent claymore mines one could improvise and employ a fougasse.


56 posted on 02/11/2013 9:05:24 AM PST by MeganC (Liberals fool people by walking upright.)
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To: Kenny Bunk

Your organizing activites are commendable, and in the best traditions of American law enforcement.

One suggestion - why send in the SWAT team to recover the lost cookies and toys when you could simply nuke the trailer park from thirty thousand feet; or better yet, launch cruise missiles? ;-)


57 posted on 02/11/2013 3:57:00 PM PST by Jack Hammer
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