Police raid high school; place kids on floor at gunpoint.

[greyhound]

"Officers charged a ninth-grader Wednesday afternoon with filing a false police report.

The juvenile said an officer shoved her to the ground during the search, Aarons said. Principal George McCrackin said he, other school officials and the girl's parent reviewed video surveillance tapes and determined she wasn't even in that hall at the time."

So on a slightly different topic, here we have one "shining light of our future" who is accused of lying about police mistreatment in this raid:

1. Maybe these kids ALREADY hate the police and want to cause as much trouble for them as possible.
2. or maybe she just "gots ta get paid".

In any case, I just saw the video this morning and if you changed the scenery a little you'd swear it was soldiers clearing a house in Iraq. And I also saw "Lt. High and Tight" interviewed. Not a good spokesman for the police....

 

[Sportcat]

It's obvious this thread has gone OT... members are now accusing me of ending all civil liberties, and also that I hate kids (if they only knew what I've done for the past five years to help kids and their parents).

I'm taking the high road and leaving this thread.

 

[Intune]

Not all civil libs, just some. But that's ok, right? You leave still believing this was a good thing. So does Mr. popo spokesman. This was wrong and lame & they're gonna pay for their stupidity. Well, taxpayers will pay. These idiots will continue on the public dole.

 

[outfieldjack]

I know SportCat....

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions... This is a forum where we can debate those. HOWEVER, when debate turns to personal insults, thats when the High Road is no longer the "High Road". SportCat has worked with childern in SC for many years. And for some of you to say that he "MUST HATE CHILDERN" is asinine!!! How DARE you make a statement like that?!?!?! Where do you, as a "member" of the HighRoad, come off saying that a fellow member HATES CHILDERN?!?!?!

Makes me ashamed to be a member of this FINE board when members start INSULTING other members like that.

 

[jimpeel]

Mike Irwin

Well, now that Sportscat has left you are, as I stated, the one-man minority in this debate.

Think of it as a schoo (sic) sponsored "Scared Straight" program.

Taken from your absurdity to the next level of absurdity: If the police, during a traffic stop, put a firearm to a teen driver's head, and threw them to the ground in a felony prone position, it would be more effective in the furtherance of the obedience of the traffic laws than the issuance a mere citation?

Concerning the video:

You have no problem with the two cops who, at the beginning of the video, pounce on the kid in the forground in the red jacket and reel him around and throw him to the ground?

You have no problem with the third cop, entering from the right, who puts his firearm on the kid and then sweeps the line of kids against the left wall?

 

[cordex]

But the students had guns pointed at them!

Boo hoo.

Think of it as a schoo sponsored "Scared Straight" program.

Let me get this straight ...
You encourage police to violate Rule #2 of firearms safety for the nebulous benefit of scaring some kids "straight"?
You advocate the use of deadly force to intimidate children - some of which may be criminals, but none of which have been charged or convicted of a crime?

*chuckle*
Okay, Mike. I respect your knowledge on a lot of things, but your opinions on this are simply too silly.

 

[Tim Burke]

But the students had guns pointed at them!

Boo hoo.

Pointing guns at people that you don't have justification to shoot is a felony. I wasn't aware that we have a segment of society that is above the law. It isn't unheard of for the police to have a ND in these circumstances, with lethal results. Boo hoo? If you make a habit of pointing guns at things you don't intend to shoot, sooner or later you will shoot something you don't intend to shoot.

Initially, the defenders of the police action took the position that holding someone at low ready wasn't holding them at gunpoint. I found this semantic argument disingenuous, but it didn't last long, as evidence was soon posted that the police had, in fact, pointed their weapons at the students.

Then we have the Lieutenant explaining how it was a reasonable tactic to point guns at children for everyone's safety. I get rather tired of the leftist exclaiming it's "for the children," but I've never heard one claim that was why they pointed a gun at them.

I'm not buying into any of this.

If I were in a similar scenario, when the guns came out, I'd assume that there was about to be a gunfight, and would make every effort to leave, ASAP. Then you could hear the LT explain how it was necessary to shoot me for my safety.

 

[HarryB]

As a junior high teacher and a parent of a junior student, this video is outrageous!

What if your boss suspected that someone at your work was doing something illegal and had the cops do this do you and your coworkers. How would you feel being covered by a weapon for now reason!

What if your wife/significant other came home and told you this happened to her at her work?

Lawsuits, firings, and the principal going on sabattical to find a clue are all in order.

I had spent 5 years teaching 8th grade in gang influenced neighborhoods. Each year I was tipped off several times about students possessing. A discreet message to the school resource officer was sent out (classroom e-mail is a wonderful thing). Soon afterword he would come to the class and remove the student without incident. The teachers always kept the students who tipped us off out the the picture so there was no fear of retribution.

 

[P12]

Goose Creek parents question drug raid at high school


(Goose Creek) Nov. 7, 2003 - Students in Goose Creek say they were minding their own business early Wednesday when 14 police officers burst into Stratford High School with guns drawn.

Police dogs indicated the presence of drugs in 12 bookbags. One student was handcuffed as a result, while his backpack was searched.

No drugs were found and no arrests were made.

Goose Creek Police Department Lt. Dave Aarons says proper procedure was followed, "Some of the officers had their gun drawn in the low ready position, which is not pointing at the faces or heads of the students. It was down in a position where had somebody who had drugs on them and in fear of being caught makes a poor decision and decides to use a weapon as means of escape, we would be able to address that."

(so like what the heck show was he wathcing?)

The incident infuriated many parents, like LeTonia Simmons, who say the children were treated like criminals, "I was just upset knowing they had guns put to their head and a K9 was barking at them and about to bite somebody. It was awful." She wants to know why the ordeal was neccessary, "Why did they have to take all that force? They were innocent kids, minding their own business, getting ready for class."

(go sick 'em)

Graham Boyd of the American Civil Liberties Union says police officers should never have come into the school with guns drawn. Instead, the students suspected of having drugs should have been brought to the principal's office to have their bags checked.

(something from the ACLU that I can agree with)

The school's principal says the raid sends a clear message to the students that those who bring drugs to school could wind up in jail. Principal George McCrackin stands behind the decision, "The high school has always had a reputation for being a safe, clean school. And I'll utilize whatever forces I deem necessary to keep this campus safe and clean."

McCrackin says several students were cuffed when they refused to get on the floor, "I don't think it was an overreaction on our part. I'm sure it was an inconvenience to those individuals who were in the hallway, but there is a valuable experience there."

School officials say there have been at least four cases of students bringing drugs to school. Officers also say they're sure drugs and a large amount of cash was floating around the school. Police say the school alerted them to suspicious behavior observed on surveillance cameras. Officers looked at tapes and watched live surveillance before they decided there was enough cause to enter the campus.

They are now trying to figure out if the dealers were tipped off by students using cell phones.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Department and the solicitor for the area called in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to investigate the raid. They want to know if the display of force was necessary.


Updated 11:02pm by BrettWitt with AP

MOVE ALONG PEOPLE!! MOVE ALONG!!



The story

 

[dustind]

I honestly can not believe that people think it is ok for police to throw people around and point guns at them for no reason. I got mad once when the police stopped to talk to me for what I thought was a dumb reason. They were very polite and professional so I got over it. I also later learned that kids were causing trouble, and spray painting in the area(less than 50 yards away) so there is no hard feelings.

I some countries police and/or military burst into houses in the middle of the night demanding to see papers. I have known people (although not to well) that have had that happen to them. I guess people have different standards of what is acceptable.

 

[Drjones]

Situations like this are exactly why only the government should have guns.

 

[Drjones]

I also wish the benevolent government with their guns-for-me-not-for-thee had shot some of these evil, drug-dealing and using kids.

I mean, they were using drugs for crying out loud!

Now we should increase spending for the WOD even MORE to get all those dangerous pot-smoking high schoolers off of our streets.

 

[jimpeel]

The school's principal says the raid sends a clear message to the students that those who bring drugs to school could wind up in jail. Principal George McCrackin stands behind the decision, "The high school has always had a reputation for being a safe, clean school. And I'll utilize whatever forces I deem necessary to keep this campus safe and clean."

No Principal McCrack-head, the raid sends a clear message to the students that those who bring drugs to school could wind up wealthy with the taxpayer's money from lawsuits brought for specious raids on schools.

We have now seen the type of force you deem necessary. I'm sure all of those kids have a newfound respect for you -- sort of like Hitler or Pol Pot -- respect me or I'll hurt you.

Respect is COMmanded not DEmanded.

 

[Cal4D4]

Spot on, jimpeel.

 

[corncob]

Why can't SC ever get any good press?

 

[care-less]

I am rather suprised that everyone seems suprised at this type of behavior by police officers. Hell, they dress like SS, or Rambo's, etc. Why are you suprised that they act that way? Been going on for years, where have you all been? When you start to train your Police Officers like they were a military force, arm them like they were a military force, dress them like they were a military force; people are somehow suprised that they act the part! Even in Nazi Germany, when the Gestapo came for you; they didn't kick your door down with guns drawn. They came dressed in suit and tie, and knocked on your door. Sure, they took you away and killed you, tortured you, or imprisoned you; but they knocked on the door like gentlemen first. We used to have "Peace Officers" in this country. Now we have "Police Officers" and "Police Forces". There is one hell of a difference. jimpeel, I totally agree.

 

[kbr80]

I hope it never happens, but I secretly wait for the day we here news of these "Gestapo like police forces" kicking in a door in the middle of the night and the home owner unleashes hell on them.

 

[Don Galt]

What's the big deal? This is standard operating procedure-- cops do this all the time.

The only difference is this time it was kids they were pulling guns on.

When they do it adults the JBTs in this forum are absolutely certain the adults in question MUST be criminals, or they never would have thrown them to the ground and pulled guns on them.

But now it happens to kids and suddenly people think there's a problem?

You get any large population of people selected by a criteria-- jews, baptists, John Deere Tractor owners, and some percentage of them are going to be dishonest, or do wrong things.

But when that population is police-- doing wrong is REWARDED, and even when the country is outraged, they are never punished.

Thus, while you may have had a population that had the typical (Small) percentage of wrongdoers, over time, those who WANT to do wrong, or get kicks from it, will gravitate to them.

And now with the "War on DRugs" and the "War on Terrorism" we're training them to be force-initiating wrongdoers.

IT doesn't matter whether the victim is a kid or an adult-- when you initiate force, you violating morality. Cops who do so belong in jail.

But of course, the government never makes mistakes, that dog had it coming, the kids in Seattle had it coming, these kids in school had it coming-- "To insure everyone's safety"

When a percentage of cops act like this and get away-- reasonable people recognize that they cannot trust ANY cops. Especially when the cops they hear from cheer on this kind of initiation of force.

 

[Baba Louie]

What kills me is that they didn't find A THING. NOT ONE HIT by the dogs.

Good trigger control tho, what with fearing for their lives whilst slamming a few slow to react ner-do-well teens around.

It wouldn't surprise me if the Principal of the school ended up with a bunch of green leafy substance scattered within his car, office or teachers lounge and some anonymous but well meaning person calling for the local boys in blue and their little dogs too, ala Revenge of the Nerds.

Bet they're all on double secret probation from here on out now.

Adios

 

[longeyes]

Another ordinary day in AmSoc.

 

[mountainclmbr]

WHAT GOES AROUND

If citizens, WHO PAY the salaries of LEO!!!!! can draw down on LEO for robbery in speed zone arbitrary reduction robbery zones, then I would also support school searches. LEOs should obey the golden rule! This country has to change if it is to survive!

 

[mountainclmbr]

I Forgot to Add

I do not trust anyoe who thinks they can run my life!!!!

 

[TrapperReady]

ose Creek Police Department Lt. Dave Aarons says proper procedure was followed, "Some of the officers had their gun drawn in the low ready position, which is not pointing at the faces or heads of the students. It was down in a position where had somebody who had drugs on them and in fear of being caught makes a poor decision and decides to use a weapon as means of escape, we would be able to address that."

So, using this guy's definition, "low ready = COM"?

Yeah, go ahead and try that without a badge.

 

[Drjones]

I hope it never happens, but I secretly wait for the day we here news of these "Gestapo like police forces" kicking in a door in the middle of the night and the home owner unleashes hell on them.

My initial reaction was, "yeah, that might send a message to the govt."

Then it occurred to me what the message to the govt AND public would be; ordinary citizens shouldn't have guns because they will kill benevolent JBT's who were ONLY kicking in his door. They were just following orders...just doing their job...

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Drjones]

The only difference is this time it was kids they were pulling guns on.

When they do it adults the JBTs in this forum are absolutely certain the adults in question MUST be criminals, or they never would have thrown them to the ground and pulled guns on them.

But now it happens to kids and suddenly people think there's a problem?

Good point.