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Sword-Wielding Man Killed in California Drug Raid

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #720)
Consequences of Prohibition

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies executing a narcotics search warrant in Lancaster Wednesday night shot and killed an a 68-year-old man when he allegedly emerged from a bedroom holding a four-foot sword. The as yet unidentified man becomes the seventh person to die in US domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year.

According to police, the man raised the sword toward a deputy and was then shot several times. It's not clear how many deputies fired. None were injured.

The man was taken to a local hospital, where he died. His name has not been released pending notification of relatives.

Three other people in the house were detained for questioning.

Police released no information about the results of their narcotics search, nor have they specified the technique they used in gaining entry to the residence.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

Sin (not verified)

Another example of Police malfeasance.  They piss on our Constitutional Rights, invade our homes, not to mention the sanctity of our very minds, and now they bring guns to a sword fight.  I can think of no one with less honor than an American law enforcement officer.  I wish there were a God and a Hell for them all to burn in.

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 7:53pm Permalink
Bill Smeathers (not verified)

Criminal Section Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 66018 Washington, D.C. 20035-6018 January 31, 2012 Andrew Scheroeder Badge #6969 of the Illinois State Police, August 15, 2007 led a drug raid on my home with a dirty search warrant. During this raid my then 9 year old daughter was permitted to use the bathroom. As a child (in passing) she looked into her bedroom and observed this individual standing over her laundry basket with a pair of her soiled panties up to his face. Since this issue has come to light. My child has been hospitalized on four different occasions totaling roughly 100 days at Lakeland Children’s Psychiatric ward at Springfield, Missouri. This has become a legal nightmare to which I have not been able to get one any help. The underlying cause (a glass pipe, some rolling papers, a few seeds and a tiny amount of pot) a case which Stephenson County Illinois has to this date (January 31, 2012) failed to prosecute or disposed of. Keeping seized personal property items, and over $1,000 in bail money, as well as the pending charges.. For protection of the child and myself. My daughter and I were both forced (by March 2008) to flee the State of Illinois (Moving to Missouri) from both Law Enforcement Officials and the Judicial System. Even selling our home. This entire affair has prevented us from visiting family or returning to Illinois for any reason. We are both in fear of entering this State. Further, Stephenson County Illinois, Court Clerks Offices and Sheriff’s Department, continues to intentionally provided false and misleading information to out of state law enforcement agencies in an effort to cause us additional hardship, fear and stress. Both the Illinois Governors Office and the Office of the Attorney General completely refuses to respond to the matter. Wanting nothing to do with it.

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 3:25pm Permalink
Bill Smeathers (not verified)

Criminal Section Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 66018 Washington, D.C. 20035-6018 January 31, 2012 Andrew Scheroeder Badge #6969 of the Illinois State Police, August 15, 2007 led a drug raid on my home with a dirty search warrant. During this raid my then 9 year old daughter was permitted to use the bathroom. As a child (in passing) she looked into her bedroom and observed this individual standing over her laundry basket with a pair of her soiled panties up to his face. Since this issue has come to light. My child has been hospitalized on four different occasions totaling roughly 100 days at Lakeland Children’s Psychiatric ward at Springfield, Missouri. This has become a legal nightmare to which I have not been able to get one any help. The underlying cause (a glass pipe, some rolling papers, a few seeds and a tiny amount of pot) a case which Stephenson County Illinois has to this date (January 31, 2012) failed to prosecute or disposed of. Keeping seized personal property items, and over $1,000 in bail money, as well as the pending charges.. For protection of the child and myself. My daughter and I were both forced (by March 2008) to flee the State of Illinois (Moving to Missouri) from both Law Enforcement Officials and the Judicial System. Even selling our home. This entire affair has prevented us from visiting family or returning to Illinois for any reason. We are both in fear of entering this State. Further, Stephenson County Illinois, Court Clerks Offices and Sheriff’s Department, continues to intentionally provided false and misleading information to out of state law enforcement agencies in an effort to cause us additional hardship, fear and stress. Both the Illinois Governors Office and the Office of the Attorney General completely refuses to respond to the matter. Wanting nothing to do with it. We need help!
Thu, 02/09/2012 - 3:26pm Permalink

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