Botched SWAT Raid Officers Given Medals for 'Bravery Under Fire'

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

A Minneapolis family is outraged that members of the SWAT team that mistakenly raided their house and fired upon them last December have been awarded medals for their bravery under fire.

Vang Khang and his family had the fright of a lifetime when they believed their home was being invaded by burglars, or worse. It was actually a SWAT team, conducting a high-risk search warrant -- on the wrong house.

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"The fact that the city of Minneapolis would give medals of valor and commendation to this SWAT team is shocking and outrageous," the family's attorney, Tom Heffelfinger, told ABCNews.com

Because the house is located in a part of town known for gang violence, Khang said he feared an intrusion when his home was forcefully entered. With his legally owned hunting shotgun, he fired at what he thought were unknown invaders from behind the second-floor bedroom door where he, his wife, and four of their six children huddled for safety, according to Heffelfinger.

When police responded by firing 22 rounds, bullets landed within inches of the family's heads, Heffelfinger said.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=5484185&page=1

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Vang Khang points to bullet holes in the stairwell of his home on Dec. 18, 2007, which ended up hitting the ceiling of his bedroom on the other side of the wall, put there when a SWAT team entered the wrong house during a raid in Minneapolis.
(Janet Hostetter/AP PHoto)

[AndyTiedye]

1. Lucky for them the SWAT Team Were Such Lousy Shots!

[hootinholler]

16. They were spraying and praying!

They were not acquiring a target, identifying friend or foe and shooting as apropos.

:grr:

-Hoot

[High Plains]

2. This is just beyond words.

Bad, bad SWAT and they fuckng give them medals?!? The nerve of the Minneapolis police. They're getting to be just as nasty as any other big city department.

[file83]

19. But violating citizen's constitutional rights takes courage!!

[harmonicon]

3. why aren't the swat team members in prison for attempted murder?!

[sasquatch]

6. Because they're cops

[harmonicon]

9. I should know better than to ask stupid questions.

[crimsonblue]

14. Cops are given the ultimate free pass...

Considering that cops are the stupidest of all society (at least here in Kansas), it is rediculous that these bigots and fuckwads get essentially total immunity for any action they commit. Fuck the police... Let them ALL burn in hell!

[file83]

21. It's as if cops are all 007's with a license to kill...

...but it isn't a secret!

[madeline_con]

4. Sounds like the DiGristine case...

Policemen conducted a nighttime no-knock drug raid on the home of a 58-year-old painter, Charles DiGristine. In this 1989 Titusville, Florida raid police set off a concussion bomb and charged through DiGristine's front door. When DiGristine's wife screamed, he went to his bedroom to get his hand gun A policeman in dark clothing and a black mask crashed into his bedroom. The men exchanged shots and the officer was killed. DiGristine was acquitted of charges of first degree murder. The police found a small amount of marijuana that belonged to the DiGristine's 16-year-old son.

[Truth4Justice]

12. I knew this had happened before, but you nailed it. Thanks for having a good memory!

This "drug-war" is beyond all reason and logic, period.

[east texas lib]

5. All right! Self esteem awards!

All better now.;-)

[Ian David]

7. SWAT is like Tee-Ball! Everyone gets a participation ribbon! n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. Heckuva job! Give one to the Commish whille they're at it!

Unfuckingbelievable... :freak:

[ladywnch]

10. we had two of these kinds of raids in Denver. They weren't as lucky

as these folks. A father and a mentally handicapped person were killed here. Medals are a bit over the top!

[MadMaddie]

11. It should be a federal crime to make these kind of mistakes

These officers should know beyond a reasonable doubt whose door they are kicking down and there should be no mistakes.

If this wer a 1 time thing happening across the country that would be one thing but this is starting to happen on a regular basis.....the Gestapo is rewarded for mistakes.

[depakid]

13. Lewis Carroll and Franz Kafka would have been right at home in 21st Century America

[barbtries]

15. i have to laugh in spite of myself

keystone kops patting each other on the back. amazingly no one in the family was killed. wonder if they would have done the same if that had happened? never mind that they obviously tried to kill the people in the house. only in bushworld. please let the madness end soon, my head is swimming.

[Javaman]

17. Next up: the recipients of this years medal of freedom! nt

[jmowreader]

18. So let me get this straight...

They were looking for Archibald Tuttle, bagged Archibald Buttle instead, and got medals for it.

I just hope Vang Khang's heart condition is on the medical records of the guy they THOUGHT they were going in to get.

[file83]

20. Brazil! Harry Tuttle, at your service, and you don't have to fill out a 27B-6 form either!

[BreweryYardRat]

22. Charming.

Jesus. This sort of shit is why I'm so harsh about cracking down on corrupt cops and incompetent cops.

Corrupt: Executed.

Incompetent: Thrown off the force, charged like they were a private citizen for their fuckup.

For fuck's sake, officers, take the time to make sure you're raiding the right place, and that your informant wasn't lying to you.