I agree. I don't think K-Mart is significantly at fault in this incident. They were apparently expecting a "reasonable" response by HPD and will ultimately suffer as much or more than anyone.
but the individual officers can't be blamed as they weren't aware that the communication with K-Mart was erroneous.
In another forum that I follow, a few active-duty and former cops have suggested that the subordinate officers were "maliciously following orders", knowing they were overstepping their legal authority and expecting the current outcome. The officer in charge of the operation is apparently not popular with the rank-and-file, and this was an opportunity to stick it to him.
Wow, the chief must have been BAAAAAAAAAD for those officers to be willing to be hauled personally into court for this (which they will be; every shark, er, tort lawyer for 50 miles around is smelling blood).
[I mean the captain]
I'd love to be a fly on the wall down at the PD just now. (Yeah, I think some here would want me to get swatted)
Sounds as if it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. I wonder if this jackass is related to the Aguirre's that I had dealings with. One of them was thorn in my side for a good 10 years and still hasn't completely vanished. This boy's father was no better and when the family gathered it was with all the class of a pack of dogs getting acquainted.