Utah SWAT team shoot and kill unarmed man during 2010 drug raid

http://www.politicalfailblog.com

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2011/jan/19/video_shows_utah_man_being_kille

A police video of a September drug raid in Utah provides graphic evidence of the sometimes dire consequences of SWAT-style drug law enforcement. In the video released by the Salt Lake Tribune, a member of the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force repeatedly shoots and kills resident Todd Blair as Blair steps into a hallway holding a golf club like a baseball bat.

According to a Tribune article in December, Blair, while a methamphetamine user and familiar to police, was not the target of the raid and was not supposed to be in the house. In fact, police had earlier seen a man they thought was Blair leaving the house and pulled him over so he wouldn't be present during the raid. But the man was not Blair and was released, at which point police began to prepare a "dynamic entry" or no-knock raid.

Police had received a warrant for a no-knock warrant after claiming in their affidavit that the house had "lookouts" who would warn of their arrival and that their suspect -- not Blair -- might attempt to destroy the evidence. The affidavit did not mention that their suspect had already moved out of the house.

Because they had expected to raid an empty residence, the police SWAT team had not prepared a "dynamic entry" plan. Instead of falling back and creating one in the standard procedure, they retreated to a nearby retirement home and improvised one. They had also forgotten to bring along a copy of their search warrant -- not a legal failing in a no-knock raid, but another indication of a drug squad fraying at the edges.

The video show police yelling, "Police! Search warrant!" and breaking down the door in a matter of seconds. Ogden police Sgt. Troy Burnett was the first officer through the door when Blair, shirtless, stepped into a hallway brandishing the golf club. He was eight to ten feet away and not advancing when Burnett, without uttering a warning, shoots him three times in the head and chest. As he collapses, Burnett yells "Get on the ground!"

Utah authorities determined the shooting was justified.

http://www.pigtube.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• police brutality
• police
• police state
• cops
• SWAT
• murder
• government

[GodGunsGutsGlory4KJV]

@inxyTrolls

Don't matter. We have THE RIGHT to be armed and defend ourselves in our own home.

They never gave that man a chance.

[Rightwingist]

@specops1991 - Either way the cops should be in prison.

[48snowbird]

God bless Matthew Stewart - A true veteran defending his home against home land terrorism gone mad - watch utah fry him tho

[xdubwaffex]

This is absolutely unbelievable.

[fastcamo]

This case needs to reopen, every law abiding homeowner has the right to defend themselves, these officers should be stripped of any and all badges and honor.

[glennwih]

Can you say EXECUTION?

[Libertytreeradio]

This is a planned murder with screaming robotic imbiciles ranting on their way through the door.It's like when "enforcement officers"(note I did NOT say peace officers, for they are NOT) chanting "stop resisting" when a man is dead under their blugeons and they notice they are being FILMED.The person is already dead or dying and they are lying for the camera. Beef up the doors on your home with 2"x12" planks as a second door and cross beam that. Your home is your castle.treat it that way MGK

[jkirbster]

@420bailey If you don't understand after all of that I guess I cant argue with stupid or ignorance as I will never be able to change your mind even with placing facts under your nose!

[jkirbster]

@420bailey (Comment continued again) Under the 4th Amendment this individual did not have any right to use any force against the officers in this house. Look at the Constitution and then try your argument with me and be a realist and watch the video taking out the fact of you knowing what it was in his hands and having only as long as watching the video 1 time to make that decision in what it is and I am sure you would agree that it could even be a sword or anything!!

[jkirbster]

@420bailey (comment continued) during the entire video they were yelling and screaming on who they were therefor he should have never came running out of the room as he did. I have done my research as I am active in the US Constitution and try to defend cases like this when I can. But under the 2nd Amendment and 4th Amendment the officers were in the right as they felt threatened with the way his arms were and the way they entered AND they had a warrant to be there (comment will be continued)

[jkirbster]

@420bailey I have watched this video several times and as I mentioned above at 25 seconds in you can see the man coming out of the room with something in his hands in an upright threatening position. You cant even tell (even though you now know that it isn't a sword or something deadly) what it is in the video. I can tell you right now that it wouldn't have taken him but maybe a second to take out the first officer had it been something deadly. Mind you (comment will be continued)