2 Texas cops shot... there has to be more to this story

many944s · 09-09-2007, 11:08 AM

story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20673474/

"Investigators said a woman leaving the home Saturday night told the responding officers her husband had hit her. When the officers were unable to enter the house through the front door, they tried to go in the back door, where a man came out shooting at them, said Tela Mange, a Department of Public Safety spokeswoman."

Umm, "they tried to go in the back door"? Why exactly did they try to gain entry to the house? Am I missing something about domestic violence laws in Texas?

There has to be something more to the story. I find it interesting that the article doesn't say weather the police identified themselves. Personally, if unidentified people tried to enter my house through the back door I'd shoot them dead too!

What gives?

p911dad · p911dad's Garage

Many944s, slapping your wife or girlfriend around is likely a crime in Texas, like most places. Once you have the assault charge made, the cops are going to come for you, inside or not. This, unfortunately, is how a lot of cops get killed or injured. A good friend of mine lost his only son(NY State Trooper, age 25) exactly this way. Too many hopped up yahoos forgetting that they are responsible for their actions, drunk or not.

many944s · 09-09-2007, 12:22 PM

I can understand that, but around here there has to be physical proof that the wife/ girlfriend has been "slapped around". The article states that she "claimed" to be hit, there was no mention of substantiation? (I understand that is different in Nevada. Once a charge is made, there are no ifs, ands or buts, your going to be arrested, proof or not)

Don't get me wrong, I am all for the police apprehending a person beating their significant other! I would think that in an article like this the reporting would want to give as much information supporting the actions of the officers, however the article provides none?

We have had SEVERAL problems locally with Police illegally entering residences, searching vehicles, etc. I was just wondering of anyone living closer to the incident had any more info.

Groesbeck Hurricane · 09-09-2007, 03:06 PM

Odessa Texas is right near the middle of no and where. I bet the officers had personal knowledge of this person.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I believe the police can enter the house, since the wife/gf probably gave them permission to do so and certainly constituted probable cause for a search. They could have knocked on the front door, kicked it in or walked around the back. Even if the woman wasn't bleeding, it's pretty understandable they'd want to have a word with the accused, maybe see if his knuckles were red or he was intox. And plenty of states have must-arrest laws, whereby if one party calls the cops for a domestic abuse situation, someone WILL go to jail. they have to arrest someone. I hear such calls are just about the most danerous cops ever get. That and dodging cars on the side of the road while talking to someone they just pulled over.

DavidI · 09-09-2007, 05:49 PM

Police can enter a home under one of the three conditions:

1. Warrant (Search, Ramey, Steigald, etc.)
2. Consent
3. Exigent Circumstances

As an American, every citizen should understand his rights and freedoms as clearly spelled out through our great system.

My condolences go out to the family and friends of the murdered and injured officers' families.

David