Watson was found guilty, but appealed the decision. When a second judge declared a mistrial, Watson chose to have a jury trial.
“This can’t be doing your job,” Watson argued. “You come into my backyard, try to open my door, open my window and flash red laser beams on my chest because you thought I was the burglar, and I thought you were the burglar.”
After deliberating for only 47 minutes, the seven-person jury found Watson not guilty.
The jury stated that Watson had showed restraint by firing only one shot, and noted that officers’ claims that “they had their weapons pointed at the ground at all times” were contradicted by the red beams Watson claims had been focused on his chest.
In the aftermath of the case, Portsmouth police have adjusted their policy and have removed the red gun laser sights from their weapons.
For Watson, recovering from the incident was no easy task: he spent 10 months unemployed.
“I begged them not to charge me,” Watson said. “I knew what it meant…I got no jobs…no one would hire me after they ran the criminal background check, because I was charged with reckless handling of a firearm.”
He is now looking into claiming negligence or gross negligence in a lawsuit against the city of Portsmouth.
Am I ever glad I do not live PORTSMOUTH, Va..Police think it's illegal to defend yourself.You must go to court and prove why you should be allowed to defend yourself. I would sue them for all I could.
In that situation, after firing a shot, 9 time out of ten he would have been bullet ridden.
So they won't be caught lying again.
....Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Earle Mobley admits that Watson did not know the people in his backyard were police, he prosecuted him for misdemeanor reckless handling of a firearm.
__________________________________________
Some may argue - technically - Watson SHOULD be charged. After all - he fired a Warning Shot.
That’s a no no.
That's what they decided to change?
I don’t like the idea of bilking taxpayers, but he should sue the living hell out of them.
They could have knocked on the door and asked whoever answered, “You reported a prowler?” Instead they chose to be ninjas.
These guys are real Dicks. They infiltrated a neighbors yard, she called 911 and apparantley learning they were in the wong house moved on to victimize another lowlife citizen.
If they are goona play cops and liars shouldn’t they try harder to get the right house and use their Dicks to ascertain their target is actually inside?
And then they use the D.A. to continue their abuse?
They and the Drickhead Attorney should be investigated. With several cops losing their badges and the D.A. barred from practice.
These guys are real Dicks. They infiltrated a neighbors yard, she called 911 and apparantley learning they were in the wong house moved on to victimize another lowlife citizen.
If they are goona play cops and liars shouldn’t they try harder to get the right house and use their Dicks to ascertain their target is actually inside?
And then they use the D.A. to continue their abuse?
They and the Drickhead Attorney should be investigated. With several cops losing their badges and the D.A. barred from practice.
I hope this guy takes the Portsmouth police department to the cleaners. A lot of police departments today have regressed to where they are as poorly led and as corrupt as the first police departments which were little more than armed gangs hired by companies and cities to “enforce” the will (not the law) of the companies and the politicians.
The right to self defense does not come from the state, and the state can not take it away.
In this case, if he had fired, he would have been swiss cheese, and both would have been justified in firing. Unfortunately, he would have died.
The prosecutor had his head up his liberal anal canal.
Good for him.
Not so for the next shmoe the cops pull this on.
Notice the cops changed their tactics and took off the red lasers. The next guy they pull this crap on won’t know the cops have guns pointed on him.
Those red lasers saved this guys’ life.
Heh.
What I don't get is how a 911 call about noises in a downstairs room rates a visit from a battalion of armed police officers?
You send out a patrol car and an officer knocks on the door. Why all the jackboots? They were bored?
Prosecute the officers for a falsified police report or perjury in court. Whichever it is where they lied about pointing them weapons at this homeowner.
Well, they won't be caught LYING again...
Law Enforcement Agencies need to wear standard patrol uniforms the public can see and easily recognize even in poor lighting conditions. Light Gray would work. No ninja or dark uniforms especially at night.
One thing really needed is to develop a means where the Office On Scene or responding can monitor and communicate directly one on one with the resident himself. The officer can ask for example do you have a blue Toyota hatchback in your driveway? Do you have a storm door? Is that your fence to the right of the front door? etc. This info has to be relayed. Homeowners put your house number where it can be seen. Fewer and fewer people do these days. If it's not on there they have to go either by dispatch instructions or run the owners car plates through. I'm not a Cop but I listen to their radio comms.
At night finding a right street address can be very difficult. Some way some how the cop should be able to communicate with the caller and gain enough accurate info quickly to be at the right house. Poor communication which can be remedied via technology and no knock raids are getting people hurt but not the criminals.
The man was defending his family. A laser trained on you through your window from someone you are not expecting is sufficient cause for being in fear of your life and using armed defense.
This wasn't a true no knock raid it was a legitimate call but the wrong residence with cops trying to gain access to check the welfare of the caller. Policy changes and technology upgrades should be done. It wouldn't be that difficult to patch a 911 call into the radio system.