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Gwinnett County Police Break Down Door To Wrong House
wsb web site ^ | 12/10/08 | WSB news

Posted on 12/11/2008 3:52:51 AM PST by from occupied ga

Gwinnett County police said they accidentally broke down the door to the wrong house before going to the correct house and arresting a man on drug charges.

Gwinnett County police investigators intended to execute a no-knock search warrant at a home on Valley Spring Drive in Lawrenceville Wednesday morning. Police said the lead investigator mistakenly pointed out a home to the officers and once officers entered the home they realized they were in the wrong house.

VIDEO: Gwinnett County Police Break Down Door To Wrong House

The homeowner of the incorrectly targeted house told Channel 2 that having guns pointed at him was something he would never forget.

"(They) put my life, daughter’s life, my lady’s life in danger," said homeowner John Lewis.

Lewis said Gwinnett County investigators burst through his front door and ordered him and his girlfriend to the floor at gunpoint.

“It’s an experience to have one gun draw on you. It’s something else to have 15, 16 of them,” said Lewis.

Lewis said his 3-month-old baby saw the whole thing. “She was the calmest one,” said Lewis.

Police said once they realized their mistake the search was ceased and the homeowners were released. Police said the front door to the home was damaged during the process.

Fifteen minutes after bursting into Lewis' home, officers served a search warrant at the correct home on Valley Spring Drive. Police said the warrant was served after a three-month drug investigation.

Police arrested Efrain Pedruza, 31, and he was taken to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. Police said they found $24,000 in cash in the home.

Officials said the investigation is continuing. Police are paying for the repairs to Lewis' door.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; noknockwarrant; swat; wod; wronghouse
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To: RushIsMyTeddyBear

Cripes, do you live in Lee County Florida?

Because I can easily picture deputies from the Lee County Sheriffs Office doing something exactly what you described!


121 posted on 12/11/2008 11:25:42 AM PST by MplsSteve
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To: TaxRelief

“The police don’t start randomly shooting on these raids”??

The hell they don’t! They’ve killed lots of people with their “wrong house” excuse. I suspect you actually klnow that.


122 posted on 12/11/2008 11:38:00 AM PST by ozzymandus
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To: sport

Yes, they should have been hooked up for Murder in the death of Kathryn Johnston, they were violating the law and a murder ensued from their actions,

If some punk knocks over a liquor store and shoots the owner, when they are caught, they would face the death penalty, there wearing a badge while they broke their own laws is no excuse at all, Mrs. Johnston’s death was a forseeible consequence of their crimes.


123 posted on 12/11/2008 11:47:24 AM PST by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: Lurker

Waving your gun around is not a good idea. That is not “random”.


124 posted on 12/11/2008 12:02:05 PM PST by TaxRelief (Walmart: Keeping my family on-budget since 1993.)
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To: B4Ranch
Gee , I didn't know it was illegal for an alleged criminal to possess cash money. This day and age the cash, in itself, is/was not an exorbitant amount to have on hand for anyone really. The article does not even say that he was arrested nor does it say why he was detained.
125 posted on 12/11/2008 12:05:29 PM PST by eastforker
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To: eastforker

that he was arrested -———should have said why he was arrested.


126 posted on 12/11/2008 12:07:28 PM PST by eastforker
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To: Trailerpark Badass

So if a gang invades your home, you would let them kill your family?


127 posted on 12/11/2008 12:15:57 PM PST by Eternal_Bear (`)
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To: eastforker
I didn't know it was illegal for an alleged criminal to possess cash money.

Cash is by and of itself proof of criminal intent these days. Especially when the police decide to steal it. Then it becomes "drug money" Several years ago one Broward county police spokesperson solemnly stated that $100, $50, $20, $10, $5, and $1 bills were proof of drug activity, because these were the denominations most commonly used by drug dealers.

128 posted on 12/11/2008 12:17:16 PM PST by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government,)
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To: Eternal_Bear
So if a gang invades your home, you would let them kill your family?

Of course, not, and therein lies the dilemma these no-knock, middle-of-the-night raids present for law-abiding homeowners like us.

129 posted on 12/11/2008 12:20:41 PM PST by Trailerpark Badass (Happiness is a choice!)
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To: eastforker

If you are accused of dealing drugs all cash within 10 miles of you is considered drug profits by many police depts.


130 posted on 12/11/2008 12:48:54 PM PST by B4Ranch ( Veterans: "There is no expiration date on our oath, to protect America from all enemies, ...")
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To: calex59
"Our police are getting out of hand and the main blame can be laid to the trashing of our constitution."

Is it any wonder when THIS is what is passed off as a constitutional scholar???


131 posted on 12/11/2008 1:20:24 PM PST by rednesss (Fred Thompson - 2008)
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To: Lurker
"Sometimes they murder people on purpose in order to steal their land."

Or sometimes people have twitchy trigger fingers. Ooooops.

Salvatore Culosi, Jr.

January 24, 2006—VA

A SWAT team in Fairfax County, Virginia serves a warrant on Culosi, an optometrist who is suspected of running a sports gambling pool with friends.

As the team surrounds him, one officer's weapon accidentally discharges, striking Culosi in the chest and killing him.

Culosi had no criminal record, no history of violence, and police found no weapons in his home.

Fairfax officials later tell the Washington Post that nearly all of the county's search warrants are executed with a SWAT team, even document searches.

132 posted on 12/11/2008 1:28:39 PM PST by rednesss (Fred Thompson - 2008)
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To: B4Ranch
Money was found in the criminals home.

Uh-oh. I've got some money in MY home. Guess that makes me a criminal, too.

In fact, I often go out while CCW (Carrying a Concealed Wallet).

Guess I'd better straighten up my act./s

133 posted on 12/11/2008 1:52:45 PM PST by PalmettoMason (Can't we all just get along? At least until I'm finished reloading?)
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To: PalmettoMason

Do you deal drugs too?


134 posted on 12/11/2008 2:20:43 PM PST by B4Ranch ( Veterans: "There is no expiration date on our oath, to protect America from all enemies, ...")
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To: mvpel

I just finished watching that video. I can’t say that I am surprised. Honestly, I would be hard pressed today to come up with any government agency or organization at the federal, state, or local level that I trust and have confidence in. I view this as a sign that our society is in the midst of a collapse.


135 posted on 12/11/2008 3:34:31 PM PST by frankiep (It's made with bits of real panther...so you know it's good.)
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To: padre35

I agree that they should have been. But some animals are more equal than others.

At one time the ruling elite followed the same laws that the pesants did.

That day is gone forever.


136 posted on 12/11/2008 3:44:20 PM PST by sport
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To: from occupied ga; TaxRelief
Only a very small percentage of posters here actually made any responce on this thread (so far) that could be construed as so pro-government, one can reasonably conclude they have lost their ability to think clearly.

For the record, I don't think any civilian police use of no-knock raids for the puposes of gathering evidence or apprehending suspects, is justified under the US Constitution.
I do think no-knock raids “might possibly” be justified to prevent emminent, violent crime, but only if all other possibility of apprehension under less violent means has been exhausted.This would be rare.
Some people still “feel” the fatal raids at Ruby Ridge and Waco were “the right thing to do”. Those type of people are demonstrably ignorant and wrong.

And yes, any attempt to break through my locked doors or windows is assured of meeting a “lethal force” level of resistance.
If any policeman ever knocks on my door and produces a legal search warrant, they will certainly be allowed to conduct a search.
I will reserve my not inconsiderable venom for the judge who authorized it, and the organization that sought it.

137 posted on 12/11/2008 5:01:59 PM PST by sarasmom (Buyers Remorse Date : Place your bets ladies and gentlemen.)
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To: B4Ranch
This is your previous post:

>>Police arrested Efrain Pedruza, 31, and he was taken to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. Police said they found $24,000 in cash in the home.

Officials said the investigation is continuing. Police are paying for the repairs to Lewis’ door.<<

Money was found in the criminals home.

Where is the reference to drugs? Your post implied that "Money" found in the home is what made the individual a criminal

Do you deal drugs too?

Nope, sorry. You'll have to get yours someplace else.

138 posted on 12/11/2008 5:35:40 PM PST by PalmettoMason (Can't we all just get along? At least until I'm finished reloading?)
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To: sarasmom

There is no comparison between the gov’t’s abuse of power in FLDS, Waco and other compounds and this misplaced drug raid.

To condone resisting a search warrant with force is irresponsible. That doesn’t mean don’t make a huge stink and fight it legally.


139 posted on 12/11/2008 6:16:46 PM PST by TaxRelief (Walmart: Keeping my family on-budget since 1993.)
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To: rednesss
Fairfax officials later tell the Washington Post that nearly all of the county's search warrants are executed with a SWAT team, even document searches.

That is insane. Why do the citizens of Fairfax put up with that?

140 posted on 12/11/2008 6:22:28 PM PST by TaxRelief (Walmart: Keeping my family on-budget since 1993.)
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