As Many as Nine Cops Raid Home Over Alleged Credit Card Fraud, Destroy Security Camera, Apparently Find Nothing They Were Looking For, Make Unrelated Arrests
Ankeny police in Des Moines, Iowa
Justin Ross of Des Moines, Iowa told local TV station WHO 13 that police from nearby Ankeny might've shot him after using a battering ram to enter his mother's home executing a warrant over alleged credit card fraud. Ross said he drew his weapon after hearing what sounded like a home invasion, but re-holstered it when someone in the next room said "police," and before cops entered the bathroom where he was. WHO 13 reports:
The whole search was caught on surveillance video.
Ankeny police tell us they knocked first, but the video shows one officer pounding on the side of the house and seconds later, officers use a battering ram to force their way in.
The video also shows an officer destroying a security camera outside the home.
Another officer is seen on the surveillance video (seen as part of WHO 13's segment here) covering another camera inside the home. At one point, the video appears to show nine SWAT-like cops marching near the home.
Ross' mother, Sally Prince, said she would've opened the door if police had knocked. Ankeny cops found nothing listed on their warrant for the Des Moines home, but made two unrelated arrests of non-family members, one for a probation violation, the other for possession with "intent to deliver."
Prince told WHO 13 she was traumatized by the incident and couldn't sleep at night. Ankany police say they don't have a written policy (!) on executing search warrants and wouldn't comment because there's an "ongoing investigation". No word on whether Des Moines police, in whose jurisdiction the incident took place, is investigating.
No one was hurt, including a dog seen in the video, so this almost-home invasion could qualify as a "good" story with nothing to see here.
More Reason on militarization of police.
h/t Mark Johnson
