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| Raid a House, Kick a Dog, Plug a Suspect |
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Posted by FoM on February 22, 2002 at 07:49:10 PT By Joel Miller Source: WorldNetDaily 
A family in Pueblo, Colo., is suing the DEA and the Colorado Bureau of Investigations after a no-knock raid resulted in their two sons being arrested and jailed despite the fact no drugs were found on the premises. According to the suit, "black-masked, black-helmeted men brandishing automatic weapons and wearing all-black uniforms with no insignias suddenly burst into the house unannounced, kicked the family's dog across the floor, ordered the entire family to 'get on the [expletive] floor,' held them at gunpoint, searched the house, found no drugs or contraband, but nevertheless carted off the family's two sons, Dave and Marcos, and imprisoned them illegally and without charges." The ACLU of Colorado filed the suit for the family, according to the Feb. 21 Rocky Mountain News. Court documents date the raid Aug. 19, 2000. "The next thing we knew," said Dan Unis, the father of the family and a Pueblo County social worker, "there were five or six police with masks and automatic weapons and stuff yelling at us. It wasn't the nicest language in the world. I see my dog go flying across the room because one of them kicked it." Unis said he asked them for a warrant, but "they couldn't produce one." So far, neither the DEA nor the CBI have had anything to say about the case. But Mark Silverstein, ACLU legal director, said this: "Once again the war on drugs misses the target and instead scores a direct hit on the Constitution. These government agents had no search warrant, no arrest warrant and no lawful authority whatsoever. They carried out this armed home invasion in flagrant disregard of the Fourth Amendment, which forbids unreasonable searches and arrests without probable cause." "I think it was a bunch of cowboys out having a good time," said Unis. "It was totally unnecessary." And unconstitutional. Police cannot arrest and jail people for days at a time without filing charges; it's called illegal detention. While being unconstitutional and unnecessary, many such raids are also foolhardy and deadly. Officers of the six-county Capital Area Narcotics Task Force, one of 49 federally funded, multijurisdictional narcotics teams operating in Texas, "were accused of mistaking ragweed for marijuana in May when they raided a Spicewood home and held residents at gunpoint as they ransacked the property and [somebody call PETA] kicked the homeowner's dog," according to a Feb. 4, Austin American-Statesman article. That version of the story, taken from court documents, is denied by the taskforce overseer, but of late CANTF hasn't had much luck in being safe. Tony Martinez, 19 and unarmed, was killed by taskforce officers during a raid on a mobile home in Del Valle, Texas, Dec. 2001. He wasn't even the target of the raid. Deputy Keith Ruiz was shot dead during a drug raid while breaking down the door of a different Del Valle mobile home Feb. 15, 2001. Thinking there were burglars outside, Edwin Delamore, 21, fired from inside and killed Ruiz. He's now charged with capital murder. When Jacqueline Paasch was stirred out of bed at 6:30 a.m., April 7, 2000, by a commotion downstairs in her West Milwaukee home, she probably didn't expect to be gunned down. But, as the Feb. 7 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tells the story, based on an anonymous tip about "possible drug activity at a home in the 1700 block of S. 54th St., and then finding marijuana seeds in a garbage receptacle near the home," a tactical unit of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department burst into Paasch's home and shot her. Paasch, who was hit in the left leg, now has limited use of her toes and needs a brace for walking long distances. The city denies any wrongdoing but did recently agree to pay $700,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Paasch. The settlement, said Paasch's attorney, Mark Thomsen, "reflects the reality that the county could not reasonably justify the shooting." The same could be said about the settlement for the Sepulveda family of Modesto, Calif., though it was dramatically smaller. Eleven-year-old Alberto Sepulveda was shot dead during a Sept. 13, 2000, SWAT raid that targeted the boy's father. An officer on the scene accidentally squeezed off a shot, killing the boy instantly. Last month, the family settled a federal lawsuit over the death. The only question that remains: Can $450,000 replace Alberto? If we didn't have so many unconstitutional and reckless drug raids, such a question would never have to be answered. Special offer: Americans have been told for 200 years that drinking alcohol is bad news – but is it? "God Gave Wine," a book by Kenneth Gentry and published by Joel Miller's Oakdown Books, details what the Bible really says about alcohol. Get it at GodGaveWine.com -- http://www.godgavewine.com/ Joel Miller is the book editor for WorldNetDaily. Additionally, his own publishing company, Oakdown, recently published "God Gave Wine" by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr. Source: WorldNetDaily (US Web) Related Articles: Civil Rights Suit: County Acted Illegally in Raid A Special Report: Hooked on SWAT CannabisNews Articles - Joel Miller Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #20 posted by shrox on February 23, 2002 at 20:08:55 PT |
| Shrox is a derivative of my last name. I don't remember who started it now. :) =^..^= [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #19 posted by el_toonces on February 22, 2002 at 21:48:59 PT:
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| Whence the term shrox? Sounds like a Dr. Suess animal-character, but I like the word. Shrox --- def. 1. extremely cute and intelligent creature that will turn rabid on you if you take away his jib....? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #18 posted by shrox on February 22, 2002 at 20:26:22 PT |
| I say right here and now. If I am ever treated like that by agents of my own country concerning my medicinal use of marihuana, I will concider that I am in a country that has suffered a coup and must defend myself against a foreign and hostile government. I may be arrested at that moment, but upon my release to freedom it will be war. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #17 posted by FoM on February 22, 2002 at 19:31:39 PT |
| Thanks Patrick, I've give that a try. He's very big and strong. Way out of standard in his height (for a Rottie) but sweet and very loyal. He's very special and we are happy we have him. Swampie good to see you and your welcome. I'm sorry about losing your dog and EJ too. We lost 3 of our dogs in the last few years and maybe that's why I am enjoying this dog so much. You don't know how long you're going to have them. Our last Rottie died suddenly after playing ball of a heart attack at 14 months old. She look perfectly healthy but wasn't. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #16 posted by SWAMPIE on February 22, 2002 at 19:11:22 PT |
| Hi all!Kicking a dog is very wrong.A small slap on the rump will do just fine in almost all cases.That and a stern voice.These shitheads need to be kicked themselves-in the head!!!!!Anyone who has had a large dog should know how to deal with any dog.My dog Leo,who was a 16 year old brindled-lab,had a stroke in his back very suddenly and lost all control of his functions in september.I/he was real lucky that the vet was open when it happened.He would have had to suffer if not.I really miss him.He LOVED to smoke cannabis WHEN he was in the mood.When we first got married,my wife didn't know that he liked to get high.She had a couple of girlfriends over and he wouldn't stop with the paw until they blew him some smoke and then he went and laid down until I got home and then he wanted to play frisbee.He actually got me to stop smoking crack.He thought that I was smoking herb,and got a sniff of the exhaled smoke and went nuts wanting more.It was then that I realized that if ONE taste was enough to make this dog crazy,then I was REALLY CRAZY about that stuff!!!Then I met my wife about 3-mos. later.I can't wait for this insane drug war to be over so we can all breathe easier. FoM,thank you for the space to read,think,and talk about these issues that are so dear to us.It helps me to tell you all about Leo.May he rest in peace,as ALL good friends should rest! PEACE , SWAMPIE
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| Comment #15 posted by Patrick on February 22, 2002 at 17:15:05 PT |
| My dog was the same way till I tricked him. I wrap his heartworm and any other medicine I have had to give him in a small piece of tortilla with a little dab of peanut butter. Instead of spitting it out, he nows says mmmmm mmmmmm more please! Hope the tip helps. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by E_Johnson on February 22, 2002 at 14:15:15 PT |
| Paasch, who was hit in the left leg, now has limited use of her toes and needs a brace for walking long distances. The city denies any wrongdoing but did recently agree to pay $700,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Paasch. Golly, what about those virtues that Christians are supposed to have, one of which is supposed to be the ability to admit when you are wrong and have harmed another person? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by Toker00 on February 22, 2002 at 12:07:58 PT |
| So that is what my dachshunds are doing. My wife is gonna love that, E J. :) Peace. Realize, then Legalize. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by FoM on February 22, 2002 at 12:01:13 PT |
| No I live about 1800 miles give or take a few hundred miles from San Francisco. I only live around 400 miles from DC. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #11 posted by el_toonces on February 22, 2002 at 11:55:27 PT:
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| You are too funny: (That's what I call dog urine spot sniffing -- they're checking their peemail!) I don't why, but I am laughing so hard at that comment....funniest thing (besides Joyce's sense of logic) I have come across in a loooooong time...... El PS -- FoM - How could SanFran be too far? I thought you lived near there? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on February 22, 2002 at 10:32:50 PT |
| When they raided the LACRC they didn't kick the dog. If they had I'm sure people would have heard about it. Dogs are very important to sick people. I had to put my dog to sleep in October, she had bone cancer. She couldn't tolerate the pain reliever that the doctor gave her -- Rimadyl -- she started barfing and her stools turned yellow. And she was too woozy to go out for walks. So I took her off Rimadyl and tested a marijuana cookie on her. It worked and she regained her interest in walks and her stool and appetite went back to normal. She was able to do her thing around the neighborhood, patrol for cats and check her peemail every day, right up until close to The End. (That's what I call dog urine spot sniffing -- they're checking their peemail!) I was afraid to tell the vet. Maybe I should now. I think a man who kicks a dog across the room could only be the kind of man who kicks his wife across the room. But I hear there's a lot of that particular mental illness in law enforcement... [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #9 posted by Steve Young on February 22, 2002 at 10:11:33 PT:
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| Oops, wrong URL. This one will take you to DSW 237 [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #8 posted by Steve Young on February 22, 2002 at 10:08:19 PT:
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| Please read DrugSense Weekly issue #237 regarding Sepulveda settlement. We don't miss much... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 22, 2002 at 10:06:32 PT |
| I read that some of the police dogs are turning on the cops that handle them. Dogs are loyal and shouldn't be trained to turn on human beings ever. I think that dogs should be used in search and rescue work, helping handicapped people and seeing eye. Kicking or shooting a dog is wrong. PS: My dog is so smart that he puts up a fight when we try to give him a heart worm pill. He just won't swallow the pill. I put garlic in his food if I think fleas are around and he doesn't mind that at all. My dog is an anti-drug dog! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on February 22, 2002 at 09:46:55 PT |
| Just how sick can these people get? What kind of wounded twisted hateful people are involved with this agency that they would kick a dog and think that's okay? My father was about the most nasty wounded hateful man I can think of and even he never kicked the dog. That would have been too mean and hateful even for him. Well I guess we can call them the Dog Ejection Agency or something. Maybe this is one reason why people keep dogs as pets. They're great for detecting evil. You can tell someone evil for sure if they would mistreat your dog. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 22, 2002 at 09:36:34 PT |
| Dr. Russo is going to both I'm sure and I know he is speaking at NORML. He might see this but he said he is busy but checking in to read but still could miss it. You can email him. Click on his name on a post where he commented and he'll fill you in. I was going to NORML's Conference but it is in San Francisco and that's too far for me to go. If it had been in Washington DC I would have gone. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by el_toonces on February 22, 2002 at 08:56:36 PT:
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| The amounts paid these horrific injuries -- given that they were unnecessary in the first place -- was WAY too small. WOuld give up your 12 year old son for $450,000? Your knee or foot for $700,000? Peace all. El PS -- Anyone here considering attending either the NORML or Patients Out of Time Conferences? If so, please let me know.....am considering going and have a few questions. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by The GCW on February 22, 2002 at 08:47:49 PT |
| evil [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by Hope on February 22, 2002 at 08:44:22 PT |
| It strikes me as very odd that I don't recall anything at all about this settlement with the Sepulveda family, either here at CannabisNews or Media Awareness Project. How could something this relevant have slipped by unnoticed? [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on February 22, 2002 at 08:12:05 PT:
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| I like the lp.org ads. Maybe this family could do a commercial... drug war funds terrorism, aka treason. [ Post Comment ] |
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