Originally Posted By ecdc <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2014/05/16/no-drugs-found-in-raid-that-claimed-the-life-of-texas-police-officer/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/...officer/</a> At about 5:30AM, Marvin Louis Guy defended his home against intruders who broke in against his will, shooting one man and killing another. So why is an aggressive Texas prosecutor charging him with murder? Oh right, because the men raiding his home were cops. They busted into the home with a no-knock warrant, and Guy fired at them. Based on accounts from other victims of no-knock warrants, it's likely that Guy had no clue who was breaking into his home. Since no-knock proliferated in the '80s, thousands of Americans (including innocent ones) have explained that when the police broke down their doors and crashed through their windows, they had no idea what was going on or who had come to "kill" them. So given that a SWAT team was busting into his house in a pre-dawn raid, Guy must be a really horrible criminal, right? Well police were tipped off by an informant (who are notoriously unreliable) that Guy was a drug dealer. But they found no drugs. Nothing. Look, Marvin Louis Guy is probably a drug user. He might even be a dealer. But who on earth thinks these no-knock raids are a good idea? I thought police detectives were supposed to...you know...detect? If this guy is such a massive threat, case his place for a while and get to know his routine. Pick him up in a traffic stop when he heads out to 7-11 for munchies. Instead, now a cop with a family is dead and a man who might've done nothing more than smoke an occasional bowl is going to be charged with first degree murder. So much for keeping a gun for protection, huh?
Originally Posted By Tikiduck I don't think first degree murder can possibly stand up in court. If the guy can swing a good lawyer, he may stand a chance, especially if an intelligent comparison can be made to highlight the proliferation of cops shooting innocent people, as opposed to "innocent" people shooting cops. This will be an interesting case to watch.
Originally Posted By Donny No knock warrants should be illegal,A police officer should have to knock and wait for at least 5 mins.Whats the worst that will happen,they flush the drugs down the toilet ????MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< flush the drugs down the toilet - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED >>> Not really. The "mission" in a great many of these cases is to continue the flow of federal drug interdiction money to the local agency, and that is based on arrests and convictions, not on unproven cases of drugs allegedly flushed down a toilet.
Originally Posted By barboy3 Naturally the state wants to preserve evidence but "Pearl Harboring" home occupants while they remain engrossed on the couch playing Call of Duty and eating Lucky Charms or get naked in the back bedroom also makes for a safer(more often than not) invasion. I'd bet police hope to kick a door down while one is on the toilet. And when that happens? Who does the wiping and washing? If I were the one barging in like that to arrest I'd make sure homeboy gets in the shower with soap before cuffing.....even if I had gloves.
