I probably agree with Glenn Reynolds about dangers of no knock raids but on the other hand statements like this from the article Glenn links to make me wonder. How firm a grip on reality do those who are condemning no knock raids have?
And even when everything goes right, it’s overkill to use what is essentially an urban warfare unit to apprehend a nonviolent drug suspect.
See in Baton Rouge last year we had one of those “non-violent” drug suspects shoot and kill one police officer and critically injure another and severely injure one more. Terry Melancon a young officer who had wanted to be a police officer all of his life was shot and killed by one of those non-violent drug offenders.
Terri Smith was his former home economics teacher. She says what she remembers most about Melancon is, “His personality. His personality… He was a great kid. He had a fun personality. He was lighthearted, but conscientious. He was fun to have in the classroom. Smith says Melancon and his best friend once wrote her a poem she keeps at home.
He was killed by a man hiding a marijuana farm in the his second florr. From the WAFB News Site:
In the chaos that followed, police found a large marijuana farm growing on the second floor of Davai’s residence. More than 71 plants were seized along with nearly $1,400. It was a big bust that, in a routine situation, would have been celebrated by law enforcement. But as we all learned Thursday afternoon, police work is never routine.
This bust didn’t follow the story line in Radley Balko’s story linked by Glenn. This was not a SWAT Team making the arrest. The suspect was not black I mention this only because the Reason article dwelled on that fact for quite sometime. The warrant was served in broad daylight at 3:00pm. Even though it was issued as a no-knock warrant the seven officers repeatedly did knock and identify themselves as officers. Apparently allowing the suspect to arm himself and prepare for the officers. When the officers finally did kick the door in the suspect was waiting for them with a .45 and sawed off shotgun.
The suspect fired first killing Melancon. The fatal .45 bullet exited the officer and critically injured another officer. Now the exception may not make the rule but if you are a police officer are you supposed to consider all those who sell marijuana to be non-violent. Apparently Garry Devai a 25-year-old man of Hungarian decent did not get the memo that he was supposed to be an easy arrest.
Technorati Tags: Reason, Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds, Radley Balko, SWAT team, no knock arrests
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