No-knock police raid ends in blazing tragedy

WND ^ | 02/11/2015 | Leo Hohmann

[maddog55]

Gun owners and self-defense advocates are lauding a rare victory in which a Texas grand jury has refused to indict a homeowner for shooting and killing a police officer who entered his home unannounced in the middle of the night.

The homeowner, Henry Magee, 28, said he thought the officers who broke through his door were robbers and he acted in self-defense to protect his pregnant girlfriend and two children.

Police were acting on a tip from a criminal informant that led them to believe Magee had more than a dozen marijuana plants, all at least six feet tall, in his rural home in Burleson County. Officers included a line on the warrant that Magee also had “possible illegal guns” stolen from the local sheriff’s office. The local magistrate signed off on the warrant, with deadly consequences.

Before the sun came up on Dec. 19, nine deputies broke down the door to Magee’s mobile home and set off a flash-bang grenade. Magee confronted them, firing away as they barged through the door. One of the deputies, Adam Sowders, fell dead.

[BobL]

““I don’t know of any other case where someone shot and killed a police officer in the course of a drug raid has been no-billed by a grand jury,” Dick DeGuerrin, the attorney representing Magee, told the Washington Post. “At least not in Texas.””

There’s a push now in Texas to change the Grand Jury system. Now I’m starting to see why...they sometimes think for themselves rather than “just following orders”.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I’m normally a police defender but this action by the cops and other actions like them are plain stupid and cost one his life. It could have cost the lives of children present too. All over a few pot plants.

Don't the lives of the father and mother matter too?

[nonliberal]

Agreed. It would serve as a warning to others.

[I want the USA back]

It’s unfortunate that the homeowner and his girlfriend were disturbed and that they had to use some of their bullets to fight off an unjust aggressor.

This should never have gone to trial.

When someone breaks into your home you have the right to defend yourself. The fact that it’s the police at the WRONG house doesn’t change anything.

When a homeowner defending himself is killed by the police during an unjust break-in, it’s murder.

[PapaBear3625]

The criminal informant should answer to civil charges for Sowder’s death.

Making a false statement which led directly to the death of a police officer -- yep, put him on trial. It should be policy that "informants" who give bogus tips should be treated very harshly.

[WayneS]

“I don’t know of any other case where someone shot and killed a police officer in the course of a drug raid has been no-billed by a grand jury,” Dick DeGuerrin, the attorney representing Magee, told the Washington Post.

The police need to stop abusing their "no-knock" warrant powers or this could very well become a trend. The People appear to be growing weary.

[muir_redwoods]

When cops behave like thugs, they should die like thugs. I wonder how many dead cops the police will have to see before they take a look at the constitution.

[WayneS]

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--

[WayneS]

Given the current state of things, I think it is more likely that more dead cops will lead to MORE unconstitutional acts on their part.

It will take wholesale change in the the mentality of those who run our police and “justice” systems to fix this.

[2harddrive]

Good! It is about effing time these no-knock raiders get off of their high horse!

[cyclotic]

I used to know a guy who was on a Federal agency SWAT team. From the little he told me, they did it right. He’d get a call on Monday that said he needed to be in Seattle on Wednesday for a scheduled take down of some guys they had been investigating for 3 months and were ready to pounce.

Using SWAT to serve a warrant or to raid a poker game at a senior citizens home is bully behavior and improper use of resources.

[baltimorepoet]

I can just barely hear music playing now. I think it is the world’s smallest violin.

[from occupied ga]

Where’s the tragedy? If any other group of home invaders had one of their number killed everyone would be saying serves them right.

[trebb]

IF there are 6 FOOT TALL plants...a knock and and kick in with lights and sirens to announce your ARE THE POLICE would be ok in this instance....one cannot flush 6 foot plants down the toilet or destroy them easily...I agree with the jury...this SWAT team mentality that officers take because they can’t actually get on a real SWAT team and therefore get to play it has to stop... There are rules that officers need to appreciate - having been on the side of the badge - I know this. Although life is precious - it also could have ended badly for those children who didn’t ask to be in that situation either...due caution is always needed and common sense as well...

Way too much "overwhelming force" being used as a first-choice when most of the ALLEGED crimes are not serious enough to warrant it. Daylight and public with a modicum of professional courtesy would be much more appropriate.

[mad_as_he$$]

I am/was surprised he survived the initial raid.

[X-spurt]

Never assume obvious.

[MrB]

Didn’t read the article, but am I correct in assuming the homeowner actually survived firing a gun at agents of the State?

That’s pretty incredible in itself.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

I’m sure the family of the dead police officer are consoled by the fact that he sacrificed himself in an attempt to protect the American Way of Life from a dozen marijuana plants.

[X-spurt]

I’m a firm believer that “anonymous” informers are in fact “fictious” informers.

LEO pushing and Judges signing such warrants should have to stand behind their use.

[reed13k]

If the issue is drugs - I’m fine with the evidence being destroyed during a daytime knock search warrant execution. At least the drugs are off the street and the purpose has been served. No knock at night for plants is stupid.