Columbia Mo SWAT Raid 2/11/2010. Cops Shoot Pets With Children Present

[Methais]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbwSwvUaRqc

This is just fucking terrible. I can't find anymore info on it to see if anything happened to the cops (not likely). This pisses me off to no end and seeing it basically ruined my day.

Doesn't contain any graphic footage, but it's fucking disturbing regardless. Basically some SWAT team stormed some guy's house expecting to find a fuckton of pot with a search warrant, kicked the door in and shot his Corgi (seriously, who the fuck shoots a Corgi?) and his pitbull, one of which was caged, I'm guessing the pitbull.

All they found was a pipe, a grinder, and a tiny amount of pot.

Every one of these cops should be fired, slapped with animal cruelty, police brutality, and the city should have the fuck sued out of them. I doubt any of that happened, but it needs to. This is such bullshit I wanna throw up.

[Some Rogue]

Apparently none of the dogs were caged and the one that hit the Corgi was a ricochet from when a cop missed the pit bull.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russ-belville/columbia-missouri-swat-ki_b_567172.html

[thefarmer]

An uncaged pitbull could be threatening, so depending on if it actually did act aggressively I could see it being reasonable to shoot it. Hopefully the corgi shooting was the result of a ricochet and not direct aim. Otherwise that really would be fucked up.

Lulz at the amount of effort they used for what they found though.

Was this filmed by the police? or by one of those docudrama shows? If the first, I'd be curious how it leaked. If the second, I'd be curious if the show will be able to air it, and what spin they'll take.

[Clove]

I don't see why a SWAT cop needed to shoot the pitbull or corgi. Stadium security would have just tazed them.

[Celephais]

What kind of shitty SWAT member misses the pitbull, and either directly hits or "ricochets" into the Corgi? What if the ricochet or miss didn't hit a dog but a person?

You can take the soapstand on stopping the war on drugs, but I'm concerned about the recklessness with which they're discharging weapons.

(Don't worry, I'm not condoning shooting of a pet that could otherwise be subdued either)

[Methais]

Apparently none of the dogs were caged and the one that hit the Corgi was a ricochet from when a cop missed the pit bull.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russ-belville/columbia-missouri-swat-ki_b_567172.html



If that's the case, then....

- How does someone that's supposedly trained in firearms miss at such short range unless it's just kneejerk recklessness?
- The cop should be charged for recklessly endangering the lives of everyone in the house including a child.
- You don't need a bullet to stop a pitbull. What's wrong with a taser or mace?Especially if you're kicking in the door of someone's home out of nowhere, you should be prepared to use non-lethal means. There's no reason why the dog should have been harmed, especially when you're in a group of people wearing body armor.
- They started shooting immediately after kicking the door down. I seriously doubt they put thought into anything before they pulled the trigger.

Also later in the video you hear the dog whimpering, followed by 3 more shots that I'm assuming was to finish the dog off, as I'm sure the cop was a veterinarian on the weekends and was able to make the judgement that the dog needed to be put down.

I go to plenty of houses where dogs bark and growl and look all vicious when you enter. Most of the time they turn out to be big babies that wanna lick yo to death.

I don't care how anyone tries to spin it, this shit can't be justified. This clip scarred me worse than goatse.

[Latrinsorm]

What if the ricochet or miss didn't hit a dog but a person?People are wrongfully killed by police all the time, at least twice a month in America. Makes you wonder about a lot of things.

[Latrinsorm]

Additional thought: I haven't heard a single police officer denounce this behavior. Obviously this means that all police forces by definition condone killing animals for no reason. The politically correct main stream media will never come out and admit this, but it's a fact. You never hear about firefighters killing animals.

[Methais]

Just read the link and my phone is too annoying to edit posts with.

For once I agree with Huffington Post though...

[Lord Orbstar]

I am a deputy chief and served a lot of search warrants. The bottom line is dogs are expendable in those situations. We will not let a fucking dog from some dope house or junkie bite us. It may be diseases or while you are subduing or dealing with the dog his scumbag owner shoots you or you team or gets away. Boom. Dead dog. Mace and pepper spray wont stop an attacking dog especially some junkyard fighting dog. The Corgi I am sure was not a primary target......but you never know. That Corgi wasn't the Queen o England's pet.

It IS tragic and I love dogs more than most people. I was a K9 officer for years.

The police expected more than what they found. That just means the dope selling shitheads had moved their product from the last time the informant saw it an when the ram broke down the door.

The fault is the criminal. Normal families do not have police break down their doors...unless it is one of those true RARE mistakes. Save your PETA rage for the crooks not the people that risked their lives kicking down another door in some crackheads neighborhood.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

What kind of shitty SWAT member misses the pitbull, and either directly hits or "ricochets" into the Corgi? What if the ricochet or miss didn't hit a dog but a person?

You can take the soapstand on stopping the war on drugs, but I'm concerned about the recklessness with which they're discharging weapons.

(Don't worry, I'm not condoning shooting of a pet that could otherwise be subdued either)

This.

And I'll go ahead and take up the mantle for 'let's stop this stupid fucking War on Drugs". It's totally worth having this kind of risk during pot busts to children, pets, people, etc! We wouldn't want people to smoke weed! We all know how it's way worse than alcohol and turns people into insane serial killers and child molesters.

There's not really a single aspect of this story that isn't annoying/infuriating.

[Methais]

Really? So are you saying a taser wouldn't stop it either? And if the guy was supposedly such a big dealer howcome they didn't find any money, since you're so sure he moved his shit somewhere else before they got there.

No, they started shooting as soon as they knocked the door down before you even hear any barking. In addition to being a bunch of assholes, they were probably ignorant fucks that saw ZOMGPITBULL and went all Uncle Ned ITS COMING RIGHT FOR US!!!!

And then he missed on top of it. If the bullet ricocheted and hit the kid instead, then what?

They kicked the door in and started shooting before the dogs even started barking. And for all you know, the raid very well could have been one of those "rare" mistakes that probably aren't so rare.

[Lord Orbstar]

When you enter on a search warrant you have pistols shotguns and maybe submachine guns in hand. Tazers wouldn't be use since you are ready for armed resistance every time. If the team isnt prepared for that and had less lethal shit in hand we would be reading about the idiot swat team that died one day. Attacking dogs don't always bark...they just come. If it barked...shoot it before it attacked if it didn't immediately back down or run. If it ran at you....shoot. it is an officer safety thing and far outweighs the dog unfortunately.

[Methais]

When you enter on a search warrant you have pistols shotguns and maybe submachine guns in hand. Tazers wouldn't be use since you are ready for armed resistance every time. If the team isnt prepared for that and had less lethal shit in hand we would be reading about the idiot swat team that died one day. Attacking dogs don't always bark...they just come. If it barked...shoot it before it attacked if it didn't immediately back down or run. If it ran at you....shoot. it is an officer safety thing and far outweighs the dog unfortunately.


I didn't realize that shooting so blindly that you miss your mark at close range and potentially killing a kid, his parents, or another cop was part of officer safety.

And they sure scored a war on drugs victory with that guy and his pipe and maybe a dimebag didn't they?

[Methais]

When you enter on a search warrant you have pistols shotguns and maybe submachine guns in hand. Tazers wouldn't be use since you are ready for armed resistance every time. If the team isnt prepared for that and had less lethal shit in hand we would be reading about the idiot swat team that died one day. Attacking dogs don't always bark...they just come. If it barked...shoot it before it attacked if it didn't immediately back down or run. If it ran at you....shoot. it is an officer safety thing and far outweighs the dog unfortunately.


I didn't realize that shooting so blindly that you miss your mark at close range and potentially killing a kid, his parents, or another cop was part of officer safety.

And they sure scored a war on drugs victory with that guy and his pipe and maybe a dimebag didn't they?

I like the guilty until proven innocent outlook, sounds like you were a very fair and just cop. :)

[Stanley Burrell]

The guy with the camera examined his nails, then pointed at a ceiling light and started rolling back his sleeve to check his watch.

[Clove]

When you enter on a search warrant you have pistols shotguns and maybe submachine guns in hand. Tazers wouldn't be use since you are ready for armed resistance every time. If the team isnt prepared for that and had less lethal shit in hand we would be reading about the idiot swat team that died one day. Attacking dogs don't always bark...they just come. If it barked...shoot it before it attacked if it didn't immediately back down or run. If it ran at you....shoot. it is an officer safety thing and far outweighs the dog unfortunately.Bullshit. Tactically outfitted SWAT have an arsenal of non-lethal weapons on them.

[peam]

Fuck pigs and their justifications.

[Clove]

http://weblog.sinteur.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/if-you-see-da-police.jpg

[Tea & Strumpets]

What's a "tiny" amount of weed? I mean, an ounce is pretty tiny.

I'd need a lot more questions answered before demonizing the cop for killing the dog, and I'm a huge dog fan (not sex way).

I'd hope that there has to be some justifiable reason before a SWAT team is sent into a home, but I have to admit I don't have a lot of experience with the Missouri SWAT teams (I hope that is what MO stands for).

[Methais]

What's a "tiny" amount of weed? I mean, an ounce is pretty tiny.

I'd need a lot more questions answered before demonizing the cop for killing the dog, and I'm a huge dog fan (not sex way).

I'd hope that there has to be some justifiable reason before a SWAT team is sent into a home, but I have to admit I don't have a lot of experience with the Missouri SWAT teams (I hope that is what MO stands for).

The article didn't say, but it sounded like something really miniscule, like a dime or a quarter or something.

All he got was misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia too. They dropped the pot possession charge, I guess that's supposed to make up for killing his dog or something.


In the end the victim pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia in exchange for dropping the charges of misdemeanor marijuana possession and second-degree child endangerment. Yes, you read that right: the police burst into this man's home, shooting weapons in his home and killing his dog with his seven-year-old sleeping in the next room and he's the one who was endangering his child by smoking pot in his own home.

[pabstblueribbon]

Man oh man could I go on and on about Columbia. Went through it today actually. A buddy of mine actually became a lawyer because it was either that or he was going to run his family into the poor house while he lived there.

I don't give two fucks about four fucks as to what the "protectors of the peace"'s justifications were. If they'd just legalize it so that you could grow your own, you would cut out the people making money and getting violent over it.

In any event, if this scenario pisses you off, dear god don't research Ruby Ridge..

EDIT: I should probably add that Columbia is home to Mizzou, lots of drunk college kids running around. I've spent quite a bit of time there (not reading, cause reading aint taught nobody nothin, and books is the worst) and most of the cops I've run into are jaded because of constantly dealing with drunk college kids (that or its a huge chip on their shoulder because they were too poor to go there, too dumb, or were just picked on constantly. Columbia is a huge boozer town. I've gotten into more fights in that damn town.. and I try to avoid them.

[Tea & Strumpets]

The article didn't say, but it sounded like something really miniscule, like a dime or a quarter or something.

All he got charged with was misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia. He didn't even get an actual pot possession charge, according to the article SR linked.

I'm just wondering if this guy has a criminal record regarding drugs or guns. I just find it hard to believe that they head in there with a SWAT team without some wrongdoing on the homeowner's part.

Also, you have to remember that some dogs are dicks. My aunt has one of those little corgies, and that thing is a little fucker. She says stuff like "just don't pet her or put your hands near her face, or she'll bite you", and acts like that is normal behavior for a dog. And the little shit barks constantly. I'm tempted to call the cops and say she has weed there, which I'm almost sure is what happened in this case (relative turned informant and said to take out the dog).

[Methais]

Also, you have to remember that some dogs are dicks. My aunt has one of those little corgies, and that thing is a little fucker. She says stuff like "just don't pet her or put your hands near her face, or she'll bite you", and acts like that is normal behavior for a dog. And the little shit barks constantly. I'm tempted to call the cops and say she has weed there, which I'm almost sure is what happened in this case (relative turned informant and said to take out the dog).

You should shoot it next time you visit your aunt, just to be sure.

[Tea & Strumpets]

You should shoot it next time you visit your aunt, just to be sure.

I don't think that will go over well at Thanksgiving.

[Methais]

I don't think that will go over well at Thanksgiving.

Just say it was being aggressive and you feared for your life. Do it while your aunt is hitting the pipe and all will be forgiven.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

Just say it was being aggressive and you feared for your life. Do it while your aunt is hitting the pipe and all will be forgiven.
Horrible advice. After his aunt hits the pipe she will be overcome with a manic, murderous rage and race for the nearest weapon and start hacking people up and then having a necrophilia sex orgy with the corpses.

No really, it's true. Weed is dangerous!

[ZeP]

I'd hope that there has to be some justifiable reason before a SWAT team is sent into a home, but I have to admit I don't have a lot of experience with the Missouri SWAT teams (I hope that is what MO stands for).

I think the justifiable reasons would be whatever is laid out in the search warrant plus possibility of armed response. That's really all it takes. Not that I personally agree but the raid itself seems like something that happens every day. Even the shooting of the dog.

[Celephais]

First the pitbull needed to inform the police that he was there, then if the police still wanted to shoot the dog, the dog could try to convince them that killing a dog is a lot worse than tazing a dog. If they are adverse to that advice, the pitbull should have left.

[Tea & Strumpets]

I do have one corrupt southernish state cop story, though, but it's second hand.

A few friends of mine in college drove from Pennsylvania to Texas to buy a bunch of weed. They ended up buying twelve pounds, which I'm guessing cost 7-10k.

On the drive back to Pennsylvania, they got pulled over in Indiana or Kentucky or Illinois or Louisiana (in ur face) or one of those other bumblefuck states, and they all got arrested and spent a few days in jail.

Then 2 days later, the cops let them all go without pressing any charges, and "confiscated" the 12 pounds of weed. Now how the hell do you confiscate 12 lbs. of weed without filing any paperwork or criminal charges!?

[TheEschaton]

First the pitbull needed to inform the police that he was there, then if the police still wanted to shoot the dog, the dog could try to convince them that killing a dog is a lot worse than tazing a dog. If they are adverse to that advice, the pitbull should have left.

Even I have to pos rep you for this, lol.

[Atlanteax]

First the pitbull needed to inform the police that he was there, then if the police still wanted to shoot the dog, the dog could try to convince them that killing a dog is a lot worse than tazing a dog. If they are adverse to that advice, the pitbull should have left.

WIN!!!

.

I have a corgi that my brother rescued from the woods nearby our extended family's cabin. It is a remarkably well-behaved dog, but you can tell that its prior owner(s) had abused it somewhat, being afraid of being picked up or cornered. But has been steadily warming up and is being more easy-going as trust is built.

I cannot imagine a corgi being such a threat to be shot ... vs a pitbull.

[Stanley Burrell]

The guy with the camera examined his nails, then pointed at a ceiling light and started rolling back his sleeve to check his watch.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/4030/37dog.gifhttp://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9154/rifle.gifhttp://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5318/enemyh.gif

Lassie was packing heat and the camera-dude saved everyone:

http://www.mutantpoodle.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/giant_dog_w_gun.jpg

[Lord Orbstar]

For the negative reppers.. I tried to explain reality to you. I am GLAD it is so far out of your understanding how police could be so seemingly heartless. that means you are normal, decent citizens and have no frame of reference for the life of narcotics abusers and sellers. I have been in places so nasty with my dog, he literally ran out of the house and refused to search for the narcotics (which was embarrassing as Hell to me as the K-9 handler lol).

The first yelp you hear was not a gunshot. it was a fear yelp when the officers probably smacked the dog or hit it with the door. That was probably the Corgi. When the team entered the house, there is no doubt the dog(s) tried to protect their family. It is an unfortunate side effect.

I have never had to shoot a dog, nor did anyone on my teams ever have to shoot a dog. I have used pepper spray on stray curs and smacked a couple with my nightstick to scare them off rather than be forced to kill them. However, you do not have that time or luxury in the middle of a search warrant.

Second guessing their decision from the outside adn with no personal experience is reactionary at best and naive. There will be an investigation as a matter of course because of the weapon discharge. Yes... the use of force will probably be upheld as being within department policy. As professional as they appeared (except for all the yelling maybe..I find it better to diffuse the situation with polite banter as they lay there cuffed), I am sure they did their homework and knew the dogs were in there and what (the informant told them) the dog's temperments were like.

[Danical]

For the negative reppers.. I tried to explain reality to you. I am GLAD it is so far out of your understanding how police could be so seemingly heartless. that means you are normal, decent citizens and have no frame of reference for the life of narcotics abusers and sellers. I have been in places so nasty with my dog, he literally ran out of the house and refused to search for the narcotics (which was embarrassing as Hell to me as the K-9 handler lol).

The first yelp you hear was not a gunshot. it was a fear yelp when the officers probably smacked the dog or hit it with the door. That was probably the Corgi. When the team entered the house, there is no doubt the dog(s) tried to protect their family. It is an unfortunate side effect.

I have never had to shoot a dog, nor did anyone on my teams ever have to shoot a dog. I have used pepper spray on stray curs and smacked a couple with my nightstick to scare them off rather than be forced to kill them. However, you do not have that time or luxury in the middle of a search warrant.

Second guessing their decision from the outside adn with no personal experience is reactionary at best and naive. There will be an investigation as a matter of course because of the weapon discharge. Yes... the use of force will probably be upheld as being within department policy. As professional as they appeared (except for all the yelling maybe..I find it better to diffuse the situation with polite banter as they lay there cuffed), I am sure they did their homework and knew the dogs were in there and what (the informant told them) the dog's temperments were like.

Homework, like a child in the house and the fact that less than an oz. is a misdemeanor offense and not trafficking; sounds like stellar homework.

I'm sure not all the facts are in but wtf; they could have at least done it when the kid was at school and the dogs were on a walk or whatever, ffs.

[Lord Orbstar]

it is safest for the cops and the people in the house if you do it at 5-6 am when everyone is asleep. Criminals that are awake and alert leads to shoot outs or hostage situations. No one wants a kid hurt, so these things are done at night if possible.

Of course, it would be best if they had information that made it positive only the suspect would be home and mom and the kid were at Walmart shopping while the dogs were being groomed at the pet shop. That is a "I wish" world though that is only rarely possible.

I agree their bust was weak sauce. They shoudl have reconfirmed or maybe their informant was wrong, lying, etc. We will never know here on these forums unless you have access to the affadavit. I do not.

[Danical]

it is safest for the cops and the people in the house if you do it at 5-6 am when everyone is asleep. Criminals that are awake and alert leads to shoot outs or hostage situations. No one wants a kid hurt, so these things are done at night if possible.

Of course, it would be best if they had information that made it positive only the suspect would be home and mom and the kid were at Walmart shopping while the dogs were being groomed at the pet shop. That is a "I wish" world though that is only rarely possible.

I agree their bust was weak sauce. They shoudl have reconfirmed or maybe their informant was wrong, lying, etc. We will never know here on these forums unless you have access to the affadavit. I do not.

Right. I fully admit there might be missing facts here. However, my issuse can be boiled down to a fiscal/safety issue whereby the allocation of resources and its consequent is paramount. Spend the time to research the target and know when only 1 person (and no pets if possible) will be present to enter and detain. The salary for 7 SWAT officers and all the ancillary costs to participate (weapon discharge, state mandated psych evals for weapon discharge, etc) has to be costly when a single guy in an ice cream truck for 1 or 2 days would probably offset 4 or 5 swat guys.

Although, all this should have been considered before the warrant to properly assess the necessary action?

To me, it just makes more sense fiscally to be more research oriented and responsible. Emilio and Dreyfuss would agree.