Posted on 09/28/2006 5:26:29 PM PDT by Sir Gawain
Children handcuffed in police drug raid Dog also killed during bust; 18-year-old charged with misdemeanors, violation
By MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writer First published: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
SCHENECTADY -- A police strike team raided a woman's Prospect Street apartment and handcuffed her children and killed her dog early Tuesday in a $60 pot bust. The woman called it excessive force and a case of mistaken identity, but officers said they stormed the home for a good reason: One of her sons was selling marijuana there.
The Police Department's tactical squad knocked down the front door of the upstairs apartment at 110 Prospect St. and flooded into the apartment shortly after 6 a.m.
"I heard a big boom. My first reaction was to jump out of bed. We were trying to find where our kids were at and all of a sudden we had guns in our faces," said 40-year-old Anita Woodyear, who rents the second-floor flat.
During the ensuing chaos, police handcuffed two of the woman's children, Elijah Bradley, 11, and 12-year-old Victoria Perez, and shot at her dog in the kitchen before killing it in the bathroom, Woodyear said.
"That seems like an awful lot of firepower for marijuana," said Fred Clark of the Schenectady chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "That's like spending $125,000 for $5."
Woodyear said she suspected police had intended to search a neighboring home, but had the wrong address on the search warrant. Neighbors said they suspect illicit drugs are dealt at other homes on the block.
"No apology, no 'sorry about your dog,' " she said.
But police said they have no reason to apologize. They said they raided the house because Woodyear's 18-year-old son, Israel M. Bradley, sold three plastic bags of marijuana there for $40 on Sept. 15. They allege he sold two other bags of marijuana in the house for $20 on Aug. 28, they said.
In addition, police said Bradley was carrying marijuana in the home on Sept. 1.
"We had the absolute right house. We had the absolute right target," said Assistant Chief Michael Seber.
Police said Bradley was one of several drug dealers they have under investigation on Prospect Street.
"The whole street is a mess right now. We'll be back," Seber said.
Bradley was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal sale of marijuana, an offense punishable by up to one year in jail. He was also charged with unlawfully possessing marijuana, a violation.
Police Lt. Peter Frisoni said Bradley admitted he sold from the apartment in a statement to investigators after the raid.
"The moral of the story is: If you don't want officers barging into your house with their guns drawn, don't let drug dealers stay with you and deal drugs out of your apartment," Frisoni said.
Woodyear said she is appalled about the way her children were treated -- and said her 12-year-old daughter was hit with pepper spray.
The dog, a pit bull terrier named Precious, urinated on the floor in fear and tried to run from the police before it was killed, Woodyear said.
Police said the animal was aggressive and left them no choice but to shoot.
Elijah Bradley said he awoke to find armed men in his home. "They had the shotgun in my face," the 11-year-old said. "I punched at him. I didn't know who he was."
Police said they had reason to have weapons drawn. Their search warrant noted that among the things they planned to search for were firearms, although no handguns were found.
The NAACP has previously criticized how police conduct raids, most notably during an incident earlier this decade when a Hamilton Hill girl was held at gunpoint and handcuffed after her mother agreed to allow police to search their home for an armed man. The family later sued the city, but the jury awarded no damages. But Paul DerOhannesian, a defense attorney and former Albany County prosecutor, said such a response may have been warranted if police believed there were guns in the house.
"This type of search warrant execution can be very dangerous from a law enforcement point of view," he said.
"You're going to have a heightened sense or need for security for officer safety. You literally have no idea what you're walking into."
The libs are intrusive,no doubt. But, what about a dollar amount to make drug raids acceptable? Someone suggested the cops go after coke dealers, what if they have a vicious (or misunderstood) dog on their premises?
Great comeback...Good job.
My give-a-damn is broken.
Are you kidding? The breacher (the one shooting at the dead bolt) uses a breach barreled shotgun. Shotguns are also weapons of choice for close combat or raids. At least it would be my weapon of choice.
"Question here. Not being personally familar with knock-the-door-down police drug raids, is it typical or even heard of, for police officers to carry and use shotguns?"
Yes, shotguns are standard issue for police. The Ninja-boys however have access to A lot more firepower.
There isnt any cut-off point, but with drigs rampant spending time and money and risking lives for 60 bucks in marijuana is stupid.
I understand your desire to cover for these cops, but they made a really stupid move.
I hate drugs and drug dealers, but wasting effort on a 60 buck dealer of marijuana the most banal of all the drugs on the market is plain dumb.
I never agree with the NAACP, but this guy has a point. Putting all that manpower out to bust a kid for 60 worth of marijuana is like hitting a Mosquito with a steamshovel.
Why didnt they just follow the kid and find his source?, maybe they would find that his source has a greater amount or maybe is dealing harder substances.
Nope. The dog wasn't collateral damage. It posed itself as a threat and it was taken out.
So send back a patrol unit.
Great question.
Honestly, the WOD zealots have lost all sense of proportion.
Never had the cops bust down my door in a drug raid.
I understand. Didn't mean to be harsh. I realize there are people out there who don't concern themselves with what weapons the police carry on drug raids. Anyway, I hope the rest of my post helped answer the question.
[But, what about a dollar amount to make drug raids acceptable?]
Or, what about just admitting that the entire war on drugs has been about as successful as the war on alcohol was during prohibition.
Yep, Black and white rolls up (no one will see), cops go up and politely knock on the door. Once someone comes they ask for permission to enter to arrest the kid (who politely has not dumped his stash). Kid meekly hands over stash and assumes position. Mom holds back the dog and other kids. All go away happy! (/sarc)
Yes, it does seem silly for a result like this...however, do you suppose police know exactly what amount of illegal drugs you are currently holding before they get a search warrant? I would venture to guess raids come up empty at times.
By the way, I don't have any particular desire to 'cover' for anyone. Just an observation.
Regards
Closer to $600 than $60. If this guy had $60 of unlicensed moonshine, would a raid like this have been justified?
How about the cops just stay out of people's houses unless they're invited or are alerted to a life-threatening situation?
"Honestly, the WOD zealots have lost all sense of proportion."
Yep just like those damn Israelies. (rolls eyes)
That would be ok with me, actually. But that doesn't change the fact that they are illegal now.
If you try to keep a police dog from attacking you, the charge is resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. When a cop kills a dog in the pursuit of their job, it is SOP.
I love a happy ending.
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