More Brownshirt Activity, house of INNOCENT family is destroyed

[Melensdad]

A package addressed to a stranger was delivered to a Beach Park, IL, home. It remain untouched where it was left for 10 minutes, when the homeowner heard a large crash from his front door being breached. He was then greeted with a gun to his face and handcuffed as he watched his home being torn apart, down to insulation being removed from the walls. Then the raiders fist-bumped each other and gave high-fives as they told him that they wouldn't be paying for the damages.

No illegal plants were found in the man's home.


Cops leave Beach Park home in shambles after drug raid goes awry

​

BEACH PARK — A family is still wondering what happened when a package was delivered and then 10 minutes later drug raiders burst through the front door.

Architect Paul Brown was in the basement of his home at the end of Adelphi Avenue when he heard a “huge noise” Friday afternoon that drew him up the stairs where he was meet by gun in his face.

He was handcuffed and placed on a chair. And a gun was still pointed at his face.

“They wouldn’t tell us why they were there,” he said. Afterward, he was able to piece some of what happened together.
. . .

Aries brought the package, with a name of someone who did not live there, inside the house and placed it inside the front door in the foyer. It was never opened . . .

Ten minutes later, police officers with the Metropolitan Enforcement Group smashed in the front door and began ransacking the house, even pulling out insulation in the basement.

“They crashed things, they smashed things,” Brown, 58, said. “You couldn’t walk into a room because everything from the drawers was thrown around and emptied onto the floor. . .

In the end, police found no drugs and took the box that police said contained marijuana with them, Brown reported. He never got to see the box, but his son-in-law thought the first name on it was Oscar and some other last name. It did have their address on it. . .

“It’s pretty shadowy and pretty bizarre for us,” he said of the two-hour ordeal that began around 4 p.m. Friday. “I was terrified. My chest was hurting and I am a diabetic and prone to heart attacks.”

Watching the officers fist bump and high-five each other as they tracked broken glass from the front door through the house also irritated him.

“I was basically held hostage,” he said.

 

[mak2]

Is the point of this thread Police raid home by mistake, and are therefore incompetent?

 

[mak2]

Having ask that though I will say things have changed a great deal since 1980. I think I have told this story before on this forum but if I have sorry. In the late 70's before the Marine Corps I was not the solid and responsible citizen I am today. I actually knew people that smoked pot and often knew of where one might find such recreations substances. Anyway a buddy of mine, I am not sure I remember the entire story, but either we had been out of pot for a long time or he did not smoke and just hung out with us. Anyway one day the police busted his house. They searched high and low for any marijuana but did not find a single seed. I think it was Southport police. The funny part of the story was the police had to return everything to just exactly like it was before the raid. The guy rolled his own ciagarettes and had about a hundred rolled very neatly and sealed in a cleaned peanut butter jar or something like that. THe police, thinking they had found 100's of joints pretty much ripped into them. Come to find out they were tobacco. Since none of the police officers could roll cigarettes to the caliber they were when they busted them up, the police either had to buy him an equivlant amount of commercially rolled cigarettes or pay him for his time while he rerolled them.

In the late 80's the police raided a house close to my Mothers house, simply because the guy bought a bunch of grow lux lights. THe cops busted the place up. Again not a single seed was found. The guy was growing lots of tomato plants in his basement. after going through everything, mainly missing up the plants but I think they busted out the door too, finding nothing, the police just walked away. I am sure the people won repairs in court, but it never should come to that. I think the war on drugs has cost us a lot of freedoms. And that war was declared by not a republican, but THE republican.

 

[FrancSevin]

Perhaps. But really , the point seems to be the police came in brutaly and without repect for the property of the person's they suspected of a crime.

BTW, I was an aware that being the recipient of a suspicious package warrants a home invasion by the authorities. It certainly does not warrant rampantdamage or cavalier destruction and abandonment. Even if the homeowner was charged.

In this case, it appears he was not.

So why the intense destruction of property for a presumed reception of a contraband?

We don't know the facts but no resistance was given. No warrant appears to have been served. Based on the report as stated, the police appear to have acted "stupidly"

Unless someone has evidence to the contrary. Mak2, besides suppositions based on whimsy, what do you have?

 

[muleman]

I see a large settlement in this guys future. The cops get a little carried away with their busts and need to learn an expensive lesson.

 

[FrancSevin]

Having ask that though I will say things have changed a great deal since 1980. I think I have told this story before on this forum but if I have sorry. In the late 70's before the Marine Corps I was not the solid and responsible citizen I am today. I actually knew people that smoked pot and often knew of where one might find such recreations substances. Anyway a buddy of mine, I am not sure I remember the entire story, but either we had been out of pot for a long time or he did not smoke and just hung out with us. Anyway one day the police busted his house. They searched high and low for any marijuana but did not find a single seed. I think it was Southport police. The funny part of the story was the police had to return everything to just exactly like it was before the raid. The guy rolled his own ciagarettes and had about a hundred rolled very neatly and sealed in a cleaned peanut butter jar or something like that. THe police, thinking they had found 100's of joints pretty much ripped into them. Come to find out they were tobacco. Since none of the police officers could roll cigarettes to the caliber they were when they busted them up, the police either had to buy him an equivlant amount of commercially rolled cigarettes or pay him for his time while he rerolled them.

In the late 80's the police raided a house close to my Mothers house, simply because the guy bought a bunch of grow lux lights. THe cops busted the place up. Again not a single seed was found. The guy was growing lots of tomato plants in his basement. after going through everything, mainly missing up the plants but I think they busted out the door too, finding nothing, the police just walked away. I am sure the people won repairs in court, but it never should come to that. I think the war on drugs has cost us a lot of freedoms. And that war was declared by not a republican, but THE republican.

I give a rats butt who declared the War on drugs. It needs to be fought. Victory is not the answer, it will never happen, because folks will continue to find new ways to enjoy their halucinatins at risk to everyone else around them. The war is unwinnable. That doesn't mean we should wage it.

We hear about the children who need our tax dollars to support them. Many need those programs because their parents are irresponssibly strung out on drugs.

Our subdivision has had it's share of Crack Houses. I have particpated with the police in two such raids. At no time did they simply blow down the door. And even though they found a working lab, at no time were they abusive or disrespectful to the building occupants.

And each time they had a warrant and explained to the people why they were there.

Both houses were dismantled because of the contaminations.

Back in my fire fightiong days, we put out at least on house fire a month during the winter as tomatoe? growers recklessly let their basement crops catch fire. Children and adults died.

The world of recreational drugs has it's share of victims. Not all are users. In fact, most are not. Families of addicts suffer each and every time.

Here's a question, why is it OK for illicit drug manufacturers to accumulate money and power but not law abiding business owners, especialy Republicans, who wish to run for President?

 

[mak2]

OK, I gotta ask. What are you talking about tomato growers catching their crops on fire? They use florescent bulbs, as safe as a desk lamp wether they are over tomato plants or pot plants.

Fanc, today is Wednesday.

 

[mak2]

And one more thing, in what way was the family destroyed?

Another pout-rage?

 

[FrancSevin]

OK, I gotta ask. What are you talking about tomato growers catching their crops on fire? They use florescent bulbs, as safe as a desk lamp wether they are over tomato plants or pot plants.

Fanc, today is Wednesday.

You have never been to a basement pot farm have you?
Never. I guarrenttee it.

Or you are lying,,,, or being intentionaly ignorant.

Lights? WTF

Extension chords, overloaded circuts, Heaters. Makeshift dryers. That's just for pot

Meth labs,,,,,an explosive mix of toxic chemicals.

Yes Mak2, in my world, it is also Wednesday. Mere coincidence?

 

[mak2]

Speaking to you was against my better judgement. As stupid as stuff as you say I have never called you a liar. I have been in several indoor pot farms, all of which tried to mimic real life conditions as closely as possible. You are right, I have never seen the silly stuff you describe, I doubt you have either anywhere except on the internet, let alone once a month. I have never seen a makeshift pot dryer that would cause a fire either. I never mentioned anything else like meth labs so I wont even respond to that, babble on, It iwill probably be a while till I talk to you again. But you will, I am sure, be providing amusement.

You have never been to a basement pot farm have you?
Never. I guarrenttee it.

Or you are lying,,,, or being intentionaly ignorant.

Lights? WTF

Extension chords, overloaded circuts, Heaters. Makeshift dryers. That's just for pot

Meth labs,,,,,an explosive mix of toxic chemicals.

Yes Mak2, in my world, it is also Wednesday. Mere coincidence?

 

[Melensdad]

Perhaps. But really , the point seems to be the police came in brutaly and without repect for the property of the person's they suspected of a crime.

What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty" in trial?

What is the whole deal with these cops parading around and "fist bumping" in celebration of destroying this guys house?

These cops should have shown some level of respect and decorum even if they were in the correct house.

 

[FrancSevin]

Speaking to you was against my better judgement. As stupid as stuff as you say I have never called you a liar. I have been in several indoor pot farms, all of which tried to mimic real life conditions as closely as possible. You are right, I have never seen the silly stuff you describe, I doubt you have either anywhere except on the internet, let alone once a month. I have never seen a makeshift pot dryer that would cause a fire either. I never mentioned anything else like meth labs so I wont even respond to that, babble on, It iwill probably be a while till I talk to you again. But you will, I am sure, be providing amusement.

Actually you did. You just thought you did it too cleverly for anyone to notice.

And now you did it again.

I was a professional firefighter/paramedic for 13 years sir.
I was the President of our HOA (408 houses on 440 acre developement), for 15 years . Ran the Neighborhood watch and was involved (Hell I started some of them,) with the investigations and take down of those houses.

But you "suggest" I didn't. Again, where I come from, that is callin' somebody a liar

I'm calling you out on it.

BTW, You brought up the War on Drugs in post #3. So you could disc a Republican. Something totaly unrelated to the OP. Perhaps you are unaware that the War on drugs isn't about POT. It is about all drugs.

What universe are you in?

And, it is not about Republicans either. Again an unrelated subject you brought to the conversation.

I and many have asked you to be respectful and not divert threads as you spout your personal attacks. I am asking you again to try.

 

[joec]

Been there myself in '69 when the had the wrong address and blew my front door off the home. Drained my pool, stood over my wife in bed and kids, removed walls, dismantled a car and walked away 15 hours later. I never got a dime but Richard Nixon's promise that they wouldn't need a warrant if doing a drug related bust. Meanwhile the house two blocks over heard of it and move along. I was stuck with $6K in damages.

 

[FrancSevin]

Been there myself in '69 when the had the wrong address and blew my front door off the home. Drained my pool, stood over my wife in bed and kids, removed walls, dismantled a car and walked away 15 hours later. I never got a dime but Richard Nixon's promise that they wouldn't need a warrant if doing a drug related bust. Meanwhile the house two blocks over heard of it and move along. I was stuck with $6K in damages.

You had no legal recourse? All because of Nixon?

That ain't right JOEC. But I have heard of it before.

One issue is that if you make a stink, the locals can make life hell for you. It's a tough choice to make because it will put your family under the shadow if you do.

Sorry to hear it.

 

[mak2]

Fist bumping is not really the problem. When I was in high school they had to have a search warrant to search my locker, it was difficult to get. Most generally that is where I stashed my pot, until I got thrown out for other reasons. The problem is Americans willingness to give up rights for the war on whatever, drugs, terror, it doesn't matter. What I really like is the outrage on the right about the problems started on the right. Talk about whimsical outrage. The point of my post was preRegean they did show respect, by the late 80's not so much. Regardless it was way before Obama. I dont think we disagree on the problem, just the genesis of the problem. It was early 80's.

What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty" in trial?

What is the whole deal with these cops parading around and "fist bumping" in celebration of destroying this guys house?

These cops should have shown some level of respect and decorum even if they were in the correct house.

 

[joec]

You had no legal recourse? All because of Nixon?

That ain't right JOEC. But I have heard of it before.

One issue is that if you make a stink, the locals can make life hell for you. It's a tough choice to make because it will put your family under the shadow if you do.

Sorry to hear it.

I tried to no avail. A year later jobs dried up and I moved to Texas where there was work for the next 9 years before stopping doing sheet metal work forever. Oh and the locals was the feds back up.

 

[Danang Sailor]

First, as someone who was involved in anti-drug patrols in the Gulf of Mexico and into the Caribbean, I want to state that
there is no War on Drugs! There are skirmishes, but nothing even vaguely resembling a "war". That name is a PR gimmick
designed to make ignorant folks feel like we're doing Big, Important Things to Stop Drugs. We aren't; we could dry up
nearly all the incoming sources if we wanted to, but nobody wants to commit the money and personnel.

Now, here are my feeling on the case in the OP and the others referred to:
1) Warrant-less police raids are unconstitutional per the Fourth Amendment, and I don't give a damn what some court
may have ruled; any such ruling itself is unconstitutional and should be overturned by Congress. If a warrant has been
issued, it should be shown to the occupants as soon as practical.
2) If a home is raided per a valid warrant, the home is damaged during the raid, and the basis for the warrant
(growing pot, selling crack, whatever) is not substantiated, that damage should be automatically be repaired; if it
becomes necessary, a court should issue a "make whole" order with a timeline in which action is to be taken lest the entity
under which the police operate be heavily fined.

Regarding point #2, this should be encoded in law in such a way that retaliation against someone who makes a claim to be
made whole is itself a crime, with teeth in it.

 

[joec]

To bad the government don't read nor understand the constitution due to fear they get away with it because this country is them against them attitude founded or not. We have had these laws accepted for many decades on both local and federal levels with complete immunity under the very laws most have sworn to protect being the constitution.

As for the war on drugs it is to profitable if one really thinks about it for the powers that be. Keeps prisons loaded making jobs, keep cops with fairly easy crimes to run up their arrest records on and show how they fight crimes. Now keep in mind also that many at the top also make a lot of personal payoffs in the war on drugs. Besides the fact it keeps the masses busy thinking about it so they don't see what really is going on.. Just my opinion based on experience.

All I can tell you today is don't get into the legal system as it can bankrupt you unless you have unlimited funds. It won't matter much either if you are found not guilty in a court of law either. Just take my word for that one if you like or look at what some have paid when they where put in jail regardless of being guilty or not.

 

[FrancSevin]

Gee wizz JOEC. that almost makes the Drug war in Mexico sound pleasant.

Perhaps we should just let it flow. Do what you want. No worries.

I would be fine with it except the folks in DC wouldn't get their hands out of my pocket to pay for all the carnage that those victims suffer from those victimless crimes.

We need laws that protect and police that protect. It is a shame that only humans apply for the work.

 

[joec]

Gee wizz JOEC. that almost makes the Drug war in Mexico sound pleasant.

Perhaps we should just let it flow. Do what you want. No worries.

I would be fine with it except the folks in DC wouldn't get their hands out of my pocket to pay for all the carnage that those victims suffer from those victimless crimes.

We need laws that protect and police that protect. It is a shame that only humans apply for the work.

I read a report from I think San Francisco a number of years ago. It struck me that most of the arrests and convictions was for "victimless crimes" while most of the crimes where violent. As for the violent from armed robbery to murder was about 3% of all crimes involving an arrest and only about .10% of those lead to conviction. Since then I've never wanted to read those stats again as I'm sure they are still pretty much the norm today.

I agree we need laws however it is how those laws are applied, with drugs being a multi billion dollar a year profit which if you think it can't by cops, judges and even higher ups then I simply say so be it, believe what you want. Most crimes in today's courts are plea bargained especially if the one on trial can't afford a lawyer hence a public defender. Once you are in the system with fines, penalties etc even once you did the time you still own can owe thousands as the prison system in most states are now in the hands of for profit businesses. I've seen it from the outside looking in with a couple of family members with simple misdemeanors from traffic up.

 

[FrancSevin]

I read a report from I think San Francisco a number of years ago. It struck me that most of the arrests and convictions was for "victimless crimes" while most of the crimes where violent. As for the violent from armed robbery to murder was about 3% of all crimes involving an arrest and only about .10% of those lead to conviction. Since then I've never wanted to read those stats again as I'm sure they are still pretty much the norm today.

I agree we need laws however it is how those laws are applied, with drugs being a multi billion dollar a year profit which if you think it can't by cops, judges and even higher ups then I simply say so be it, believe what you want. Most crimes in today's courts are plea bargained especially if the one on trial can't afford a lawyer hence a public defender. Once you are in the system with fines, penalties etc even once you did the time you still own can owe thousands as the prison system in most states are now in the hands of for profit businesses. I've seen it from the outside looking in with a couple of family members with simple misdemeanors from traffic up.

Most of us have seenthat also JOEC. There are bad cops and bad people. Doesn't make laws they break bad laws. All I am saying.

The system is designed and run by Humans. So,from minor traffic to larceny to Murder,innocents canget caught in the system. That's why here folks are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, even when they are in fact,,,,, guilty. Unfoprtunately ,that presumed nnocence only exist inside the courtroom.

Yes, that can get costly.

Sure wish we had a better alternative. Don't you?