Posted on 08/29/2014 5:18:49 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A couple in their 80s say the LAPD trashed their house while serving a search warrant, but police say officers did what they had to do in a potentially dangerous situation.
Warren Johnson, 81, says police officers smashed in almost all his doors in his house with a handheld battering ram a week ago when they came to arrest his 18-year-old grandson, DeShawn Johnson, a gang member suspected in a West LA knock-knock burglary, and search for the electronics they believe he stole.
Elderly Couple Says LAPD Trashed Their House While Serving Search Warrant
A week after the search warrant was served, padlocks hung off hinges and door frames were cracked from floor to ceiling. Johnson said he and his wife secure each door with a padlock because they can’t take their belongings with them when they go out of town.
“They decided that they would tear everything up because they couldn’t get what they wanted,” Johnson said.
The Johnsons want the LAPD to clean up after themselves.
“We know that this is the type of behavior that is typical of what happens in black and brown communities in Los Angeles,” the Johnsons’ attorney, Nana Gyamfi, said.
West Los Angeles police Captain Evangeline Nathan says officers were just doing their duty in clearing the residence.
“I admit, we damaged some doors,” Nathan said. “We did not trash his residence. We did not break windows.”
The Johnsons’ security video showed officers coming into closets and bedrooms and pushing cameras up or out of view to stop them from capturing the officers’ actions. Nathan said that was because officers did not know where the video was being fed, and they did not want suspects to know they were coming.
“This had nothing to do with where you live, it had absolutely nothing to do with race, it had to do with DeShawn committing crimes,” Nathan said.
The last time it appeared that the situation may have needed a cop, I called me instead.
Exactly. Nobody said they couldn’t have them on the property. However, the police cited a reason for blocking the cameras during the execution of the warrant that I think a judge would find acceptable.
Let me know if the property owners file suit about the cameras.
WD40 removes graphite.
My first reaction was the same, but no. Eighty one year olds just don’t deserve the treatment the LA cop swats gave to them, over apprehending a criminal grandson.
Why couldn’t these roid heads knock on the dang front door like civilized officers and cover the back door and windows with their swat brats?
The story was so lousy it failed to confirm they even got the gang perp, or I missed it if it got a mention.
I am disturbed by the dangers and damages cops are starting to pose all too frequently against innocent horrified residents, as in this case and breaking into wrong addresses, terrorizing families and children especially, and slaughtering tramautized family pets.
Homes are not a war zone, no matter the excuses, when occupied by innocent elderly.
> WD40 removes graphite.
Not from carpeting.
It is behaviour that is typical in whatever communities raids are conducted.
I would never call 9-1-1 for a break in or for much of anything else. The police dont distinguish much between victims and perpetrators. They are all “enemies.”
Over the years I have had a couple of attempts on my house when I was home and once encountered drug dealers dealing drugs on the grounds of my church. I dealt with those situations successfully without involving the police.
We had drug dealers in the house across the street for a couple of weeks. One morning they opened their front door to find a gasoline can on the front step with a BIC lighter on top of it. They moved their operation elsewhere immediately and moved themselves out of the neighborhood a few days later. I found out some time later who was the fellow who provided the warning. He was an acquaintance of another neighbor and comes from a family that had got a reputation for arson-for-hire.
>Not from carpeting.
True, true. Vacuum then add confectioners sugar, brush it in and vacuum again.
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