AR - Home invasion by Police imposters, woman shot.(VIDEO)

[Irish]

I think this will lead to some interesting discussion, try to stay on topic. In no way is this a thread to slander, bash, insult or denegrate LEOs or private citizens for their actions, except the bad guys. This is a place for us to learn from other's experiences and what works, what doesn't and how we can become better prepared to deal with a situation if we're ever confronted with a similar scenario. http://www.fox16.com/news/local/stor...w.cspx?rss=315

Police are looking for three men who posed as police officers and forced their way into a Little Rock home. They came in demanding cash and shot the homeowner, Rachel Woods, in the leg.

"Two were masked and grabbed her by the hair, the alarm went off and they were going to shoot her in the face," says neighbor Julena Keddie.

Just after 10 Monday night, neighbor Julena Keddie rushed to help her neighbor. Woods was in her house with her two children when three men started banging on the door and yelling Little Rock police.

"These three men were impatient. They kicked this door in, but police say the best thing Rachel did was set her alarm. When it went off, it scared them away."

"She was hysterical. She was just more worried about her kids," says Keddie.

Before they ran off, one of them shot Rachel in the leg. Then asked her ''Where's the money?" She told them she didn't have any.

"We had just gone to bed when we heard gunshots. We came outside and heard Rachel yelling, 'help me, help me I've been shot.'"

Two of the men were wearing T-shirts with "POLICE." The third had on a fake badge.

"It's very disturbing when a criminal uses the word police, especially Little Rock police, to commit a crime," says Lieutenant Terry Hastings.

When police catch the men, they will be charged with several crimes including aggravated robbery and impersonating a police officer. All three are described as 20 to 30 years old. The men took off in a green SUV. If you have any information you are asked to contact the police.

[ThirdWatcher]

I'd like to see mandatory sentencing enhancements (similar to firearms enhancements) for crimes committed by criminals masquerading as police.

[Humpty_Dumpty]

It's a sad reality of living in South Africa, but here there's a good chance that if someone wearing a shirt reading "POLICE' and displaying a Police badge comes into your home and shoots and robs you that they are actually the real Police.

[QuietShootr]

This one won't last long.

[Rider79]

This would be an interesting discussion, as long as it doesn't get out of hand. I'm curious about this as well. Outside of them having the wrong house, I'm absolutely sure that legitimate, actual LE would have no reason to do a no-knock raid on my house. So I can be 99.999999% sure that someone knocking down my front door and yelling police isn't the real deal. Would I still hesitate to act? I hope not.

[Artos]

Pseudo cops are a problem down this way as well...no one knocks our real leo because of it. The problem for both civi's and leo is the confusion of 'knowing' 100% who is bashing in your door.

I can say 95% of the time (in this area), the bad guys usually prey on other thugs who have dope and or $$$$ in the home....at least that is the perception of the news coverage.

[Littlelebowski]

This would be an interesting discussion, as long as it doesn't get out of hand. I'm curious about this as well. Outside of them having the wrong house, I'm absolutely sure that legitimate, actual LE would have no reason to do a no-knock raid on my house. So I can be 99.999999% sure that someone knocking down my front door and yelling police isn't the real deal. Would I still hesitate to act? I hope not.

Sadly, there's numerous cases of plain clothes no-knock warrants on the wrong houses and private citizens suffering as a result.

[CarlosDJackal]

Sadly, there's numerous cases of plain clothes no-knock warrants on the wrong houses and private citizens suffering as a result.

Yup. It's up to the Police to make sure that (a) They act on information that they at least verify as plausible; (b) They cross-reference the name on the warrant with the name on the residence and that they try to reconcile any differences; and (c) They double-check that the residence they are about to storm is the correct residence in the first place.

IMHO, if ALL the LE Departments were to use proper procedure before executing a no-knock warrant; the chances of these mistakes will be minimized or eliminated.

One of the things I have often thought about is what happens if something like this (no-knock warrant mistakenly executed at my home) were to happen to me? Knowing that I have not committed a crime that would warrant such an action, there is a good chance I would not believe that those executing it were not legitimate LEOs (unless I happen to recognize one or more of them) and would probably defend myself and my home.

[Littlelebowski]

And that's the problem I worry about as well, Carlos, particularly with my dogs. Sadly, with a mistaken plain clothes no-knock warrant, yours odds of either shooting a plain clothes officer or being shot by one and having your dogs killed are extremely high.

Plain clothes no-knock warrants are bad for the most part but it does give our paramilitary cops a chance to play tactical and justify their own existence.

[DeltaG21]

At my agency, we utilize the swat team for search warrants, specifically because we knock and announce and there is no mistaking the shear presence on the street of agency vehicles and personnel. From an officer safety standpoint I feel it's far safer to knock and announce. The potential loss of life from a no knock going bad FAR outweighs any potential loss of evidence. JMHO