Another no-knock death
This time, it was an officer who was killed:
Officer Jarrod Shivers was shot and killed while executing a search warrant in Cheseapeake, Virginia Thursday night.
The suspect had no criminal record (at least in the state of Virginia). And he says in an interview from jail he had no idea the undercover cops breaking into his home were police. The suspect, 28-year-old Ryan David Frederick, also says a burglar had broken into his home earlier this week.
As of yet, there are no reports of drugs found at the scene.
Sadly, these sorts of deaths are pretty much avoidable.
Eric has more and asks:
What are you supposed to do if you are in your home at night, and suddenly hear the sound of your door being smashed open?
Well, I start shooting.
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 am
Agreed, if someone smashed down your door, they are probably going to get at least 2 .45 bullets in the chest.
Knocking is a good procedure.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
“Frederick said in a jailhouse interview Friday he had no idea a police officer was on the other side of the door when he opened fire.”
If he shot through the door, he’s probably cooked.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
What a stupid procedure.
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Hell with .45s. Anyone entering my house is catching rifle rounds, because criminals can buy body armor too.
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
A – No Where in the news articles I’ve read does it say the cops hit the wrong house
B – What would you expect him to say? Yeah, I just shot a cop?
I’m a cop and have been on several drug raids. Pre-raid planning is standard to the point of having photos (and sometimes video) of the exterior, and sometimes floorplans of the house. We ALWAYS announce who we are. Do drug raids go as planned? No, 99.9% of the time they are conducted with no one getting hurt; but .1% of the time something bad happens. When it does, its investigated 8 ways from Sunday and (hopefully) lessons are learned.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
“We ALWAYS announce who we are.”
OK. Lets roll play. You smash in my door, anounce that you’re a cop. And I’m supposed to believe you…why?
Lets turn it around. Say I smash in your door and announce that I’m from the FBI (which I’m not). You believe everything you hear from the mouth of someone who just smashed in your door?
Now lets say that a burglar smashes in your door an announces that he’s a cop. You’d believe him of course, ’cause anyone who smashes in other people’s doors is most likely telling the truth?
Further, lets say that some clever burglar, or someone who has a vendetta against cops, goes to XYZ rentals and gets a cop uniform, then smashes in your door and announces that he’s a cop. You’d totally believe that, ’cause, again, anyone who smashes in doors is to be considered most trustworthy. And we all know that anyone who wears what appears to be a uniform is completely beyond suspition of any kind. That’s it?
Now lets say that you smash in my door, and I’m sitting in front of the TV cleaning one of my many guns, which I do often, you announce that you’re a cop, and I’m dumb enough to believe you ’cause apparently I’m dumb as a rock. Assuming all that, you see the gun in my hand, and; A. You tell me that it’s a fine piece of hardware I have there, and you ask me the caliber and how much I paid for it. or B. You start shooting. I’ll give you one guess.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Mike, you are correct on the wrong house. Stupid auto-complete.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hey, Mike, how much planning went into this raid. Let’s see they had the address, if they had done a little work they would have discovered he goes to work everyday. That would indicate at least a semi-schedule as regards his departure. How hard would it have been to arrive an hour or two before his expected departure, conceal and wait and tap him as he reaches his car door , then serve the warrant and search the house. No or very minimal opportunity for anyone to get hurt that way.
Now, tell me more about how carefully planned these things are.
I am in favor of laws relieving residents of any responsibility either civil or criminal in the death or injury of anyone breaking down the door. If an officer dies doing this in all but extreme instances, for instance a hostage situation, or being fired upon at approach, then his death or injury should just be considered a cost of doing business from the department’s standpoint and the price of getting to have all that fun from the officer’s standpoint.
Now, I expect that stance will anger a great many people, especially cops. But I would also bet if that proposal could become law there would all of a sudden appear more effective, more efficient and less deadly tactics (read “safer for everyone”) becoming the preferred methods.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
+1 S.A. and Lyle. The militarization of peace officers is quite troubling. And all over drugs and money? Come the fuck on! Our president did coke, mary jane is decriminalized in many states, and there are still murders going on. Why waste the time and money and lives of police on this stupid shit. For almost 30 years now – and I don’t think drug use has gone down either. Well, it’s been said the government never fought a war it didn’t want to…
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
The worst thing that could happen to these drung rings, and to the governments who support them (cough) would be legalization.
We don’t see criminal syndicates fighting in the streets over shoe-sales territory, now do we? Nor do we see alcohol pushers shooting each other. You get the picture.
As it is, the criminals have a very profitable, government-enforced monolopy on drugs. Now think of all the pink slips that would have to be issued under total legalization…. Hence it won’t happen soon. Too much money in it– for both the governments and the gangs.
And we get stuck in the middle with this stupid shit, paying out of our wallets and out of our civil rights.