Chief: Houston police will end use of no-knock warrants

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Chief: Houston police will end use of no-knock warrants

February 19, 2019

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston police will no longer use no-knock warrants following a drug raid on a home that turned into a deadly shootout in which two suspects were killed and five undercover officers were injured, the city’s police chief said.

“The no-knock warrants are going to go away like leaded gasoline in this city,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced during a town hall meeting Monday.

He said officers will need to request a special exemption from his office to conduct a no-knock raid.

The decision comes as the city faces criticism from local community activists for the Jan. 28 raid that led to the deaths of 59-year-old Dennis Tuttle and 58-year-old Rhogena Nicholas, who both lived in the home. Four officers were shot in the gunfight and another was injured but not shot.

Acevedo revealed last week that an investigation into the drug raid found a 30-year veteran of the force lied in an affidavit to justify storming the house without warning. Officer Gerald Goines, who prepared the search warrant, has since been suspended and it’s unclear what charges he could face, according to the police chief.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/6a2c71b0cebf4591a9be2bdf7a58d0c7

[PTWB]

1. Good news from a horrible situation.

A no-knock raid must only be used in the most dire of circumstances & never for a routine drug bust. It is ridiculous that these have become so common.

[wcast]

2. About time!

Unless there is an immediate clear and present danger, watch and wait and arrest them when you can safely.

[backtoblue]

3. K&R nt

[hunter]

4. A no-knock raid was one of the scariest things that's ever happened to me.

I was traveling with my girlfriend and her girlfriend and we rented a motel room in right wing California. I was sleeping alone in the bed away from the door, the two women in the other bed.

I woke up to my girlfriend's girlfriend screaming.

The police went through all our stuff, and then they left, no explanation, no apologies, no nothing.

Thank goodness none of us had drugs or guns...

It was something I felt guilty about for a long time because back then I really had got up to some mischief -- dumpster diving, minor trespasses, playing with computers that weren't mine...

But it was probably just harassment by local cops, who I'm certain did good business busting travelers for cannabis, and sending us a message that our type (whatever they thought we were) wasn't welcome in their town.