King George’s Cops Take Over Nevada Homes For Investigation

July 5, 2013 by Sam Rolley

A lawsuit filed in Nevada alleges that cops violated residents’ 3rd Amendment rights by demanding they be allowed to occupy two homes in order to conduct an investigation involving a neighbor’s residence.
According to Courthouse News Service, officers with the Henderson Police Department demanded that the residents allow them to use their homes in order to gain a “tactical advantage” over a suspect. When the residents refused the request, the officers arrested them and used the homes anyway.
According to the complaint, here’s what happened:
At 10:45 a.m. defendant Officer Christopher Worley (HPD) contacted plaintiff Anthony Mitchell via his telephone. Worley told plaintiff that police needed to occupy his home in order to gain a “tactical advantage” against the occupant of the neighboring house. Anthony Mitchell told the officer that he did not want to become involved and that he did not want police to enter his residence. Although Worley continued to insist that plaintiff should leave his residence, plaintiff clearly explained that he did not intend to leave his home or to allow police to occupy his home. Worley then ended the phone call.
But, cops don’t like being told “no”:
[Henderson police officers] banged forcefully on the door and loudly commanded Anthony Mitchell to open the door to his residence. Surprised and perturbed, plaintiff Anthony Mitchell immediately called his mother (plaintiff Linda Mitchell) on the phone, exclaiming to her that the police were beating on his front door.
Seconds later, officers, including Officer Rockwell, smashed open plaintiff Anthony Mitchell’s front door with a metal ram as plaintiff stood in his living room. As plaintiff Anthony Mitchell stood in shock, the officers aimed their weapons at Anthony Mitchell and shouted obscenities at him and ordered him to lie down on the floor. Fearing for his life, plaintiff Anthony Mitchell dropped his phone and prostrated himself onto the floor of his living room, covering his face and hands.
Addressing plaintiff as “asshole,” officers, including Officer Snyder, shouted conflicting orders at Anthony Mitchell, commanding him to both shut off his phone, which was on the floor in front of his head, and simultaneously commanding him to ‘crawl’ toward the officers. Confused and terrified, plaintiff Anthony Mitchell remained curled on the floor of his living room, with his hands over his face, and made no movement.
Although plaintiff Anthony Mitchell was lying motionless on the ground and posed no threat, officers, including Officer David Cawthorn, then fired multiple “pepperball” rounds at plaintiff as he lay defenseless on the floor of his living room. Anthony Mitchell was struck at least three times by shots fired from close range, injuring him and causing him severe pain.
Mitchell was charged with obstructing an officer. His father faced the same charge after he attempted to leave a police command center when the officers also took over his home. The charges ultimately were dismissed with prejudice after the men spent nine hours in jail.


http://personalliberty.com/2013/07/0...investigation/