Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:44:40 PM EDT

Hope the old timers come out ok.

Shit happens sometimes in the war on drugs.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.azcentral.com
Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house

Associated Press
Mar. 23, 2006 02:30 PM

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An elderly Mississippi couple is in the hospital after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

A heavily armed team stormed the house in Horn Lake before dawn Wednesday. A man and a woman -- both in their 80s -- were injured as police secured the house. No drugs were found.

Police say the woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and the man had bruised ribs. advertisement

Police later raided another house and arrested two people on drug charges.

The police chief says an investigation is under way.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:47:29 PM EDT

[#1]

How about double checking the address, asswipes.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:47:33 PM EDT

[#2]

No doubt they were guilty of something else OR they associated with someone who was guilty of what the police alleged thereby deserving of the treatment they received.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:48:00 PM EDT

[#3]

"Respect my authority!!"

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:49:32 PM EDT

[#4]

More detailed article

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An unidentified elderly Horn Lake couple were hospitalized Thursday after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

The incident occurred Wednesday about 4 a.m., said police Capt. Shannon Beshears. Beshears said it was the right address but the wrong house.

Beshears said a heavily armed Tactical Apprehension Containment Team stormed the house.

"We had good information from a reliable source that had been backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

"It was the wrong house," Beshears said. "The house was totally dark and the TACT members went through to the bedroom looking for the suspects."

A man and a woman — both in their 80s — were injured as TACT team members secured the house although no drugs were found. There were children in the house also, but they were not awakened, Beshears said.

Beshears said the woman received a dislocated shoulder and the man received bruised ribs. Both were taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, but both asked police not to identify them.

"When we went to the second house on the lot, we found a methamphetamine cook under way and we made an arrest of a woman in connection with that illegal operation," Beshears said.

Police charged Sonseeaharay Lyn Fells, 36, with manufacturing a controlled substance. She was being held in the DeSoto County Jail in Hernando under a $100,000 bond.

Police Chief Darryl Whaley said a full investigation would be made into the operation to determine what happened when officers confronted the elderly couple. He said he believes his officers acted correctly and followed procedures when they entered the first home.

"Obviously, a mistake was made and it was regrettable," he said. "But, I stand by my officers. I think they acted properly."

Beshears said William Clinton Pruitt, 41, also was arrested on a charge of manufacture of a controlled substance and sale of a controlled substance. He was being held under a $200,000 bond.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060323/ap_on_fe_st/botched_raid_1

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:50:45 PM EDT

[#5]

so how did this 80's couple get those injury's ? dislocated shoulder and bruised ribs ?? what ? they take off running and had to be tackled? For Duty and Humanity !!!!

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:51:20 PM EDT

[#6]

now what exactly gives officers the right to assault everyone at a warrant location anyway...

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:51:52 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

www.azcentral.com
Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house

Associated Press
Mar. 23, 2006 02:30 PM

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An elderly Mississippi couple is in the hospital after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

A heavily armed team stormed the house in Horn Lake before dawn Wednesday. A man and a woman -- both in their 80s -- were injured as police secured the house. No drugs were found.

Police say the woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and the man had bruised ribs. advertisement

Police later raided another house and arrested two people on drug charges.

The police chief says an investigation is under way.

Is that the entire article?

Does that pass for reporting?

Did the police go to the correct house but were wrong in their belief that it contained a meth lab?

Or did they go to a house other than the one listed on the search warrant?

Or was the wrong address typed on the search warrant?

If the first, too bad.
The second the team leader needs to be fired.
The third the person who wrote the warrant needs to be fired.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:53:03 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Quoted:

www.azcentral.com
Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house

Associated Press
Mar. 23, 2006 02:30 PM

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An elderly Mississippi couple is in the hospital after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

A heavily armed team stormed the house in Horn Lake before dawn Wednesday. A man and a woman -- both in their 80s -- were injured as police secured the house. No drugs were found.

Police say the woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and the man had bruised ribs. advertisement

Police later raided another house and arrested two people on drug charges.

The police chief says an investigation is under way.

Is that the entire article?

Does that pass for reporting?

Did the police go to the correct house but were wrong in their belief that it contained a meth lab?

Or did they go to a house other than the one listed on the search warrant?

Or was the wrong address typed on the search warrant?

If the first, too bad.
The second the team leader needs to be fired.
The third the person who wrote the warrant needs to be fired.

sounds like two houses on the same lot.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:53:21 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
now what exactly gives officers the right to assault everyone at a warrant location anyway...

When your in your 80s humans tend to get pretty frail,all it takes is a fall and bones will break,dislocate.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:53:39 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

"We had good information from a reliable source that had been backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

"It was the wrong house,"

Team leader needs to be fired.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:54:01 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
No doubt they were guilty of something else OR they associated with someone who was guilty of what the police alleged thereby deserving of the treatment they received.

No doubt.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:54:20 PM EDT

[#12]

You know, if they'd sent a guy out, even in a ghillie suit, with a set of binoculars during daylight they could've avoid this.

"Well boss, I observed that the larger house is only occupied by two old folks, so it sure isn't that one."

Intel and recon are your friends.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:54:30 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Quoted:

www.azcentral.com
Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house

Associated Press
Mar. 23, 2006 02:30 PM

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An elderly Mississippi couple is in the hospital after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

A heavily armed team stormed the house in Horn Lake before dawn Wednesday. A man and a woman -- both in their 80s -- were injured as police secured the house. No drugs were found.

Police say the woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and the man had bruised ribs. advertisement

Police later raided another house and arrested two people on drug charges.

The police chief says an investigation is under way.

Is that the entire article?

Does that pass for reporting?

Did the police go to the correct house but were wrong in their belief that it contained a meth lab?

Or did they go to a house other than the one listed on the search warrant?

Or was the wrong address typed on the search warrant?

If the first, too bad.
The second the team leader needs to be fired.
The third the person who wrote the warrant needs to be fired.

If it's the first then we are well and truly fucked because neither the police or the judiciary care about PC. Or perhaps the judiciary just signed off on trumped up evidence. Either way, it suckes.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:55:29 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Quoted:
No doubt they were guilty of something else OR they associated with someone who was guilty of what the police alleged thereby deserving of the treatment they received.

No doubt.

You missed the sarcasm.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:56:10 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
No doubt they were guilty of something else OR they associated with someone who was guilty of what the police alleged thereby deserving of the treatment they received.

No doubt.

You missed the sarcasm.

Oh lol

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:57:59 PM EDT

[#16]

All the 80 years old people I have ever known cook meth. They tell me "it's just like canning vegetables".

Love the "good info from a reliable source".

The cops parents should have the same thing done to them. A little beating and dislocating is good for the soul.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:58:33 PM EDT

[#17]

Obviously these guys are true professionals. That's why they had eyes on their target prior to the operation.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:58:48 PM EDT

[#18]

By God I am sick of this shit.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:59:03 PM EDT

[#19]

They should have brought whoever made the statement that got them the warrant to identify the correct house. Or had the proper house indicated. Raiding one just cause you have a 50/50 chance ain't good enough.

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:59:09 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
More detailed article

backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060323/ap_on_fe_st/botched_raid_1

If they purchased narcotics at the house, then they should have known which house to enter. Why wasn't the person who made the purchase present at the raid to make sure they hit the correct house?? Sounds like a pretty simple step that would have avoided a mess...

Posted: 3/23/2006 4:59:21 PM EDT

[#21]

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:00:25 PM EDT

[#22]

There's a situation but the violence still is suspect. Normally I come down on this stuff, but the address in this case is the problem, and it wasn't "wrong". I've said it before, the counties or whatever the local jurisdiction happens to be are partly at fault. One can have a 33rd st., 33rd. place, 33rd ave., 33rd lane, 33rd court and 33rd way, and these are in one county. HArd to keep track though one would expect it to be done right. But two houses, ostensibly with the same address, something needs to be done, as in separate numbers. That's a "mapping jurisdiction" issue that should be fixed. I'll not blame the police on this one, based on information available at this point, for the wrong house but I will question whether there were some bullies on the team getting their jollies. No excuses with the old people: would you not tell me to identify my target before shooting? No, they weren't shot, but if you have to get close enough to cause a physical injury, you have every way and every responsibility to see your "target." Someone thought they could beat someone around without retribution.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:00:36 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
More detailed article

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An unidentified elderly Horn Lake couple were hospitalized Thursday after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

The incident occurred Wednesday about 4 a.m., said police Capt. Shannon Beshears. Beshears said it was the right address but the wrong house.

Beshears said a heavily armed Tactical Apprehension Containment Team stormed the house.

"We had good information from a reliable source that had been backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

"It was the wrong house," Beshears said. "The house was totally dark and the TACT members went through to the bedroom looking for the suspects."

A man and a woman — both in their 80s — were injured as TACT team members secured the house although no drugs were found. There were children in the house also, but they were not awakened, Beshears said.

Beshears said the woman received a dislocated shoulder and the man received bruised ribs. Both were taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, but both asked police not to identify them.

"When we went to the second house on the lot, we found a methamphetamine cook under way and we made an arrest of a woman in connection with that illegal operation," Beshears said.

Police charged Sonseeaharay Lyn Fells, 36, with manufacturing a controlled substance. She was being held in the DeSoto County Jail in Hernando under a $100,000 bond.

Police Chief Darryl Whaley said a full investigation would be made into the operation to determine what happened when officers confronted the elderly couple. He said he believes his officers acted correctly and followed procedures when they entered the first home.

"Obviously, a mistake was made and it was regrettable," he said. "But, I stand by my officers. I think they acted properly."

Beshears said William Clinton Pruitt, 41, also was arrested on a charge of manufacture of a controlled substance and sale of a controlled substance. He was being held under a $200,000 bond.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060323/ap_on_fe_st/botched_raid_1

Piss Poor Police Procedure

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:06:22 PM EDT

[#24]

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:06:56 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
They should have brought whoever made the statement that got them the warrant to identify the correct house.

The warrant should have included a physical description of the house "single story ranch style home. white stucco with burgundy tile roof and a singe white front door facing east."

Plus the narcotics officer who previously bought drugs there should have been the team leader.

Thats how we do it. i guess thats why we havent done a wrong house raid.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:08:25 PM EDT

[#26]

Sad, and they let them carry guns even.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:08:47 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
Quoted:
More detailed article

backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060323/ap_on_fe_st/botched_raid_1

If they purchased narcotics at the house, then they should have known which house to enter. Why wasn't the person who made the purchase present at the raid to make sure they hit the correct house??

Yep. sounds like narcs wrote the warrant then handed it off to SWAT and wiped their hands of the case.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:09:06 PM EDT

[#28]

"Police Chief Darryl Whaley said a full investigation would be made into the operation to determine what happened when officers confronted the elderly couple. He said he believes his officers acted correctly and followed procedures when they entered the first home."

Ahhhh...right, yeah, that's it, they did everything right. Except for raiding the wrong house and, from the way this reads, body slamming an 80 couple asleep in their bed. This should make the rest of their retirement years a bit more comfortable. Yep, the war on some drugs just contunues to get better and better.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:10:52 PM EDT

[#29]

AR15fan, it is too bad these idiots aren't more like you and your team. This never should have happened and there is no excuse for it.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:12:59 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:

When your in your 80s humans tend to get pretty frail,all it takes is a fall and bones will break,dislocate.

Being assaulted by ~~cops~~ thugs tends to break bones as well. Too bad the people who committed this crime are above the law. Probably get "suspended" with pay for 2 weeks.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:14:02 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
More detailed article

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An unidentified elderly Horn Lake couple were hospitalized Thursday after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

Police Chief Darryl Whaley said a full investigation would be made into the operation to determine what happened when officers confronted the elderly couple. He said he believes his officers acted correctly and followed procedures when they entered the first home.

"Obviously, a mistake was made and it was regrettable," he said. "But, I stand by my officers. I think they acted properly."

Beating up a couple of innocent elderly people in their 80's is "acting properly" for this police chief? I wonder what kind of damage is needed for him to consider actions improper?

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:19:08 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Quoted:
They should have brought whoever made the statement that got them the warrant to identify the correct house.

The warrant should have included a physical description of the house "single story ranch style home. white stucco with burgundy tile roof and a singe white front door facing east."

Plus the narcotics officer who previously bought drugs there should have been the team leader.

Thats how we do it. i guess thats why we havent done a wrong house raid.

We even did it that way. UC guy goes with the team.

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:19:47 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Quoted:

www.azcentral.com
Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house

Associated Press
Mar. 23, 2006 02:30 PM

HORN LAKE, Miss. - An elderly Mississippi couple is in the hospital after police burst into their home thinking it housed a methamphetamine laboratory.

A heavily armed team stormed the house in Horn Lake before dawn Wednesday. A man and a woman -- both in their 80s -- were injured as police secured the house. No drugs were found.

Police say the woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and the man had bruised ribs. advertisement

Police later raided another house and arrested two people on drug charges.

The police chief says an investigation is under way.

Is that the entire article?

Does that pass for reporting?

Did the police go to the correct house but were wrong in their belief that it contained a meth lab?

Or did they go to a house other than the one listed on the search warrant?

Or was the wrong address typed on the search warrant?

If the first, too bad.
The second the team leader needs to be fired.
The third the person who wrote the warrant needs to be fired.

Or did the fuzz just fuck up another no knock and harm more innocent peasants all because they are too damn stupid to get the right house ?
I hope those old folks sue the SHIT out of them.........oh, wait, that will just cost the tax payers not the MORONS who raided the wrong house.
Anyone want to bet that NONE of the LEOs get in any REAL trouble ?

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:24:22 PM EDT

[#34]

Good thing they didn't have a dog!

Posted: 3/23/2006 5:57:05 PM EDT

[#35]

This type of thing is considered acceptable in the "war on drugs". It isn't.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:03:28 PM EDT

[#36]

Putting on one blue sock and one black sock is a mistake.
Having a half dozen heavily armed men burst into the wrong house is negilgence.

Why were they doing a no-knock anyway? Can you flush an entire meth lab down the toilet?

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:03:53 PM EDT

[#37]

sooner or later, one of these botched raids is going to end up with headless cop, what then?

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:07:39 PM EDT

[#38]

Why didn't they have a good description of the house on the warrant? When they got there and they had two houses, why not back out and do more investigation? It appears as though they flipped a coin or did paper-rock-scissors. All around it was a poor bit of police work, no matter if the house had the correct address.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:09:23 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:

sooner or later, one of these botched raids is going to end up with headless cop, what then?

Homeowner defending his family will be killed by the other officers in the raid. There will be an investigation and all officers involved will be cleared of wrong doing.

The execution of the War on Drugs is a one of the sadest jokes this Republic has seen.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:10:46 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:

sooner or later, one of these botched raids is going to end up with headless cop, what then?

Then IF the peasant homeowner is even still alive, they will be charged with murder and given the chair.
Just because they defended their home and family.

Nice double standard.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:16:04 PM EDT

[#41]

The usual hysterical rantings and blather aside, it would make me happy if atleast one officer who was responsible for the raid on the elderly couple was fired, sued, and lived the rest of his life under a bridge warming himself with a little fire made from sticks and cardboard boxes.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:25:23 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:
Quoted:

sooner or later, one of these botched raids is going to end up with headless cop, what then?

Homeowner defending his family will be killed by the other officers in the raid. There will be an investigation and all officers involved will be cleared of wrong doing.

The execution of the War on Drugs is a one of the sadest jokes this Republic has seen.

Actually, that has happened already, in the city of West covina Calif the local PD went to the wrong house at 3am, machine gunned the innocent sleeping resident to death. I never did hear what was the final resolution, this is the stuff that the news media sometimes under-report.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:26:06 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
Quoted:

"We had good information from a reliable source that had been backed up by a purchase of narcotics linked to the address. However, when we arrived at the designated address, there were two houses on the lot. We hit the larger of the two houses.

"It was the wrong house,"

Team leader needs to be fired.

Team leader needs to be charged.

Posted: 3/23/2006 6:31:07 PM EDT

[#44]

IIRC, warrants must explicitly describe the premises to be searched and the persons or items to be seized.
Omissions or mistakes, however unintentional, may render the warrant invalid.

GROH v. RAMIREZ

Posted: 3/23/2006 7:47:45 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
Quoted:

sooner or later, one of these botched raids is going to end up with headless cop, what then?

Homeowner defending his family will be killed by the other officers in the raid. There will be an investigation and all officers involved will be cleared of wrong doing.

The execution of the War on Drugs is a one of the sadest jokes this Republic has seen.

Happened here in Denver. Guy's name was Ismael Mena, an illegal, who got his ass shot in a no-knock on the wrong house. Happened again a couple of years later, where another illegal got his ass shot drinking a Pepsi, 'cause some 'tard the cops were chasing went into the home.

Happened most recently in Mississippi where a fellow named Corey Maye shot at and killed some poor dumb Drug-War Soldier, and is now incarcerated, awaiting the electric chair. He wasn't a drug dealer, but he was a father who thought his home was being broken into by thugs (turns out, he was right).

It's Prohibition, 21-st Century-style.

Posted: 3/23/2006 8:07:58 PM EDT

[#46]

I am Jack's complete fucking lack of surprise, all that's missing is an apologist telling me that cops jobs are really tough and its the grandparents fault for sleeping in a house near a drug dealer.

Posted: 3/23/2006 8:17:45 PM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:
Putting on one blue sock and one black sock is a mistake.
Having a half dozen heavily armed men burst into the wrong house is negilgence.

Why were they doing a no-knock anyway? Can you flush an entire meth lab down the toilet?

Ever meet a tweaker? I wouldn't want to give them time to get their bearings and bring their weapons into action either.

Posted: 3/23/2006 9:13:05 PM EDT

[#48]

Beating up a couple of innocent elderly people in their 80's is "acting properly" for this police chief? I wonder what kind of damage is needed for him to consider actions improper?

Well, as long as the assailants didn't deviate from "procedure". Heck, they could even attack, torture, gas, and burn a religious community of men, wemon and children.....oh wait.

C.H.

Posted: 3/23/2006 9:36:41 PM EDT

[#49]

truely a shame this happened. Some day some crazy person is going to take offence at their Wife/ Mother/Father/ other family member being assulted in this way and sit in a van a hundred yards away from the donut store with his hunting rifle just waiting for the first LE officer to show up. Some good LE guy is going to get hit because of some JBT he has to work with. Dammit, start policing your own. How can this Chief say they didn't do anything wrong. Someone hit/pushed those old folks around. I am not LE, but I work with a lot of different ones on an everyday basis. Almost all of them are upstanding people - although there are quite a few with rather low morals when it comes to women. Never the less, these type of mistakes are not acceptable. There needs to be a level of responsability. The buck needs to stop somewere.

Posted: 3/23/2006 10:26:42 PM EDT

[#50]

This sort of thing wouldn't happen if all participants in "wrong house" raids were given the sentence fixed by law for Burglary with an Assault while Armed with a Firearm - generally in the neighborhood of 30 years to life.

Why should any error be tolerated?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Elderly couple hurt as police raid wrong house (Page 1 of 3)

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