Posted on 12/17/2007 8:37:42 AM PST by Ken H
Police blamed bad information for sending a SWAT team into a north Minneapolis house early Sunday morning in a raid that ended with shots exchanged between police -- who were struck by bullets -- and the resident, who said he was just defending his family.
The homeowner, who does not speak English, told his brother that he thought the police were the "bad guys" after they broke through the back door of the house, where he lives with his wife and six children. He fired and hit two police officers, who were not injured thanks to their bullet-proof vests and helmets, police said in a statement.
The Police Department's SWAT team was trying to search the two-story house at 12:46 a.m. in the 1300 block of Logan Avenue N., as part of an investigation by the Violent Offender Task Force. But police said that they learned later that bad information led them to that house.
"It was found out that this particular address was not part of that long-term investigation," police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia III told KSTP-TV on Sunday. He told KMSP-TV that it was a "bad situation."
-snip-
Vang and his children, who range in age from 3 to 15, were shaken, Dao Vang said. "All these gunshots in the house. They don't know what's going on. Flying bullets in the house and they just cried," he said.
Garcia told KMSP that police grabbed the family's children and shielded them during the incident.
Garcia did not return repeated calls from the Star Tribune on Sunday. Questions about the shooting on Sunday night were referred to Lt. Amelia Huffman, head of the homicide unit, who also did not return calls.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
This Gestapo crap needs to end before some innocent person is killed ...
Did they kill the dog?
They need to train with the Atlanta cops. They don’t leave witnesses.
Wonder if they’ll charge the guy with police assault? Even though I applaud his defense of his home and family I think he’s lucky he’s still alive. SWAT teams are pretty heavily armed.
The guy is lucky to be alive.
And I’m betting the SWAT Team leader is asking the team “Even if if was a mistake - why is he still alive?”
“We won’t prosecute you, if you promise not to sue us...”
Or, something like that......
this nonsense has to stop.
I stand in agreement. There is no reason for these types of raids unless someone's life in in imminent and immediate danger.
Wow, and he lived to tell about it? Amazing.
Lubbuck SWAT lives on.
This Gestapo crap needs to end before MORE innocent PEOPLE ARE killed ...
All joking aside ... whether you’re for the WOsD or not ... IMHO there is NO amount of illegal drugs that justifies this type of paramilitary action against citizens of this country ... guilty or not. If the amount of drugs in question is flushable in the time it takes to serve a warrant PROPERLY ... it ain’t worth the chance of hurting an innocent.
The total incompetence of government at all levels has filtered into most of our police departments.
This sh*t is just over the top and is occurring at a disturbing frequency.
A brave but stupid reporter who attempted that follow-up visit!
There have been plenty of innocent people killed by these Jack Booted thugs. When innocent people start shooting back, well good luck for them.
just another fun and games for guys that couldn't make it in spec ops but really like wearing the balaclava, black helmets and body armor with dynamic entrances. What is the point? I'll gladly show them how to do a snatch and grab so that they never have to blow down a door again. But it just doesn't look as cool, does it?
Oh and by the way, innocent people have been killed. But they're poor so it just doesn't matter.
How come they don't do this to the MS-13, Crips, Blood, LK's or Mexican Mafia? They KNOW they've got drugs and guns. But it's easier to go after grannies and guys with kids in their house. I like LEO's. I shoot with them. But puhleeze, anybody with half a brain knows that these are just PR knock downs in order to justify increasing budgets and maybe, just maybe they get to buy more toys.....like an APC...or hell a real tank. That would be great, huh?
The account in the Strib says the homeowner (shooter, victim) spoke no English.
In this account....http://wcco.com/crime/shots.fired.officers.2.611952.html the homeowner has lived in this country for 20 years.....Hmmmmmmm
You do know that I was being facetious ...
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