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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFlorida SWAT Cop Guns Down Unarmed Man in Marijuana Raid
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http://www.alternet.org/drugs/florida-swat-cop-guns-down-unarmed-man-marijuana-raid
A 26-year-old Deltona man was shot in the face and killed in a SWAT raid over small-time pot sales. Police said he was a threat; his friends dispute that.
By Phillip Smith / AlterNet March 4, 2015
A Volusia County sheriff's deputy on a dawn SWAT team pot raid shot and killed an unarmed resident of the home Tuesday. Derek Cruice, 26, becomes the 10th person to die in US domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year.
According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Cruice was unarmed and no weapons were found in the house. Police did find about nine ounces of marijuana, as well as a scale, a drug ledger, marijuana smoking pipes, plastic bags and about $3,000 in cash.
Sheriff Ben Johnson said that Deputy Todd Raible, a member of the Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, shot Cruice in the face as the SWAT team came through the door of the residence at 6:30 a.m..
"They (deputies) were met with resistance and a shooting occurred," Johnson said without offering further detail. He said he could not elaborate because his office had not yet interviewed Deputy Raible.
But sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson added that Raible fired his weapon after perceiving Cruice's actions as a threat.
Cruice was pronounced dead at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City.
"The deputy, hes all right, actually he is very shaken," Johnson offered.
Sheriff Johnson said Cruice was listed in the search warrant as the subject of an ongoing "narcotics" investigation. He was one of six adultsfour men and two womenin the house when deputies arrived.
Matt Grady, 24, was one of them. He said he was awakened by banging on the door and opened it.
"A bunch of guys came around the corner and they are pushing me down," Grady said. "And as I was going down on my knee I heard gunfire," he told The News-Telegraph.
Steven Cochran, 24, was another resident. He said Cruice was not resisting anything.
"He had no weapons on him or in the house," Cochran said. "Nobody was making any kind of resistance or keeping them from doing their job."
Cruice had been working as a delivery driver at Monster Pizza in Deltona. His co-worker, Thomas Figueroa, who had known him for nine years, stopped by the scene and broke down crying behind the yellow crime scene tape.
"He is not the kind of person that would do that (attack a deputy)," he said, adding that the pizza shop had closed for the day to mark Cruice's death.
Deputy Raible, 36, is now on administrative leave, as is standard for deputy-involved shootings. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the death because a police officer was involved.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)Trillo
(9,154 posts)You break down someone's door and storm the place. The people inside will be put in fight or flight mode as a reflex, that's not a thinking action.
Yay police. Killed another without due process, but it's okay, you have immunity, you can kill with impunity.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)on point
(2,506 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Roland99
(53,342 posts)DFW
(54,365 posts)But here in Europe, it is freaking people out.
Most Europeans like us, like our country, or, if they haven't visited yet, at least think they will.
Many of them are nonetheless terrified of visiting, scared that some PSTD-scarred, steroid-addled cop will shoot them for no reason (justification manufactured and supplied by your local constabulary).
billhicks76
(5,082 posts)It's simple.
PotatoChip
(3,186 posts)but the brutality so often inflicted, even if the victims survive.
This behavior makes me wonder if it is similar to what Germany may have been like in the early to mid 30's. In order to show so little regard for the well being of their fellow citizens, the general public- who seem to be turning a blind eye to what is going on, are clearly buying into the justifications given.
There has to be some kind of collective insanity in order for this to happen. One has to be able to dehumanize the victims in order to not see these atrocities as being wrong, and something that needs to be stopped. I can think of no other explanation.
Deuce
(959 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)So the fella charged him with a loaded face? The cop will get off on this, the War on Drugs clearly states we have to all be insane toward plants and chemicals.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)What type of threat could he possibly have been against a heavily armed swat team? This is sickening.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Says one of the roommates.
I'm sure FDLE will get right to the bottom of this.
onethatcares
(16,166 posts)Pam Blondies outrage in 1......................................2...................................................
everyone is a threat, armed, unarmed, white, black, yellow, you name it, we are no longer citizens that may have broken the law.
It's gonna take some time to get us all under control.
Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)doesn't work when the bad guy with the gun is a cop.
In fact, it doesn't work under any circumstances.
I'm getting very fed up with living in a police state.
imthevicar
(811 posts)Then Johnson offered his hand to The deputy and shook him up some more.
WE know this Bull Shit, and how it goes. Hero cop, Frightened for his live meets drug crazed Marijuana addict and is forced to (sniff) shoot the dread druggie/thug/pusher/life destroyer/ or what ever new name they can hang on the poor bastard. and most of the populous swallows this hook line and sinker. GET OFF YOUR KNEES PEOPLE!
What people need to Remember is that all of these men; Hitler/Stalin/Mou/Pinochet'/Pol-Pot, and I sure you can all think of a few more, were all just like anyone walking down the street, human. so as long as their are Humans their will be people like this in positions of power, be it petty or grand. They will be waiting for their chance to act, and the more they think they can get away with it, the more often and the worse they will act.
2naSalit
(86,569 posts)we need to clean house all across the nation when it comes to this Muriken SS. The whole damned system needs to go.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)speed limit, etc., because you don't want to mess with Volusia Co.
This saddens me deeply.............
NBachers
(17,107 posts)The war's being fought on American soil now. We are the enemy.
TeamPooka
(24,221 posts)ladjf
(17,320 posts)The unjustified killing by police is doing more damage to the psyche of the American People than most could imagine. In our minds we are supposed to look to the police for protection but now a huge part of the population is scared to death of them and believe that the police are killing at will with no punishment for them.
When, if ever, is it going to stop?
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)Especially since they hear about something like this practically on a daily basis. It's a stain on America.
catnhatnh
(8,976 posts)A quiet Monday night at home.
Since all six adults could legally possess 2 ounces each the nine ounces found would not even been subject of a search much less a seizure. And oh yeah-pizza would have still been delivered Tuesday....
Taitertots
(7,745 posts)Their spokesman didn't even interview the shooter.
Everyone should just start calling SWAT teams "death squads".
Logical
(22,457 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,452 posts)scscholar
(2,902 posts)The Republican's thugs in blue are just out of control. Out of control.