Originally Posted by
yyzvoyageur
Should all search warrants be denied because some dim-witted police officer in a different jurisdiction couldn't get the address right the last time?
Denied, no. Given extra scrutiny, yes. Strictly restricted as to when LEOs can use aggressive and destructive no-knock tactics, yes. Statutorily enhanced penalties against LEOs when they screw-up a search warrant resulting in destruction of life or property and it turns out the subject of the search was innocent (or the wrong house), yes IMO. If departments, prosecutors, and politicians swiftly and harshly punished screwups, then such screwups would become quite rare.
Google "Cheye Calvo dogs" or take a look at
this article. Cops raided a guy's house (happened to be the mayor), slaughtered his two dogs (labs, not exactly an aggressive breed) while the dogs were running away from the cops (dogs were shot in the back and in the hind legs), spread dog blood all over the house, and held the mayor and his mother-in-law at gunpoint for several hours while one of the detectives laughed and joked on her cell phone while she made an appointment for one of her own dogs. It turned out the household was completely innocent.
The text of the warrant acknowledged that there was a good chance it was the wrong house (drug smugglers frequently ship drugs to innocent parties and intercept the package before delivery). The warrant did not justify no-knock procedures. The cops refused to apologize, refuse to release the internal report on the incident, and refuse to name the jack-booted pigs involved. (and I use that word specifically and intentionally to refer to those that are to blame for this incident)
IMO this case is a perfect example of what is wrong with the police in America. IMO every member of the departments involved should be shunned by their community, literally run out of town and denied service in businesses, and be shouted down in the street by citizens. If the law-enforcement community knew what was good for them, their members and their unions would stand up and condemn these cases. But instead, they close ranks and defend those involved in spite of overwhelming evidence. Until this scum and others like them are dealt with, shamed by their peers, and punished, I will never trust a LEO or even give one the time of day.