[justlurking]

These people were not broken over like shotguns, and the OUTRAGE is just beyond the level of reaction that it deserves.

I disagree. It's the outrage that will prevent this from happening again. Regardless of the hyperbole, that's the important part -- the police won't have the opportunity to escalate the use of these illegal tactics.

It is worth nothing that this is actually the second such occurrence. An earlier one at a hot dog stand (James Coney Island, I believe) netted 25 arrests, some of which were the business' regular customers. The owner unwittingly cooperated with the HPD's "plan" to deal with the problem, but is now planning to file their own complaint.

[HiTech RedNeck]

shortsad, if he wants to redeem himself, might try to propose a raid methodology that passes legal muster, rather than continuing to defend this one regardless of the good intentions. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The owner unwittingly cooperated with the HPD's "plan" to deal with the problem, but is now planning to file their own complaint.

Wanna bet that umpteen lawyers have called them offering their services to up that complaint to a lawsuit.