[patssle]

Originally Posted by nynor

huh. i have a neighbor that i truly dislike. somehow, i don't think this would work....

Six police from Houston's anti-gang task raid the home of Pedro Oregon Navarro. Officers storm his bedroom, where Navarro awakes, startled and frightened, and reaches for his gun. Police open fire and shoot Navarro twelve times, killing him. His gun was never fired. Police found no drugs or evidence of drug use or sale in Navarro's home.

Police obtained Navarro's address after pulling over a car of three men, one of whom they arrested for public intoxication. Already on probation, the suspect offered a "tip" on a nearby drug dealer in exchange for his release. Police agreed to the bargain, and obtained Navarro's address from the suspect.

Irene Gilliam Hensley

On August 14, 2002, police in La Porte, Texas stormed the home of 88-year-old Irene Gilliam Hensley on a paramilitary raid after a tip that her grandson Charles Gilliam was growing marijuana in her backyard.

The tip came from an aunt who had had an argument with Mr. Gilliam, and police decided to raid after an officer peeked over Hensley's fence and confirmed the presence of illegal plants. According to the Houston Chronicle, the warrant specifically stated that the officer who peeked over the fence had experience identifying marijuana plants.

The plants turned out to be okra. Police found no drugs in the home.

On July 27, 2004, police in Houston, Texas break open the front door of Blair Davis, a landscape contractor. Police scream, "Down on the Floor! Down on the Floor!" while pointing an assault weapon at Davis's head.

Davis' first thought was that the invaders were criminals dressed as police, a continuing problem in the Houston area. The team of 8-10 police officers push Davis to the ground and handcuff him while they search his home. They're acting on a tip from a confidential informant who says Davis is growing marijuana in his home.

The plants in question turned out to be hibiscus. Police would never apologize to Davis.

Nobody cares because it doesn't happen to *you*.

How the War on Terror Has Militarized the Police - Arthur Rizer & Joseph Hartman - National - The Atlantic