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Ryan Frederick faces up to ten years in
prison for shooting a burglar who turned
out to be a police detective.
In Chesapeake, Virginia, Ryan Frederick was convicted by a jury of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a burglar who was breaking down his door. It could have been worse; Frederick faced capital murder charges in the case, since the burglar was Jarrod Shivers, a police detective who was participating in a misfired marijuana raid on Frederick's home. But it also could have been better. Frederick could have received the same slap on the wrist that police officers usually get for killing innocent people during SWAT raids gone wrong.
The case has been mired in controversy since the beginning. The raid was apparently sparked by a report from a freelance burglar who had earlier broken into Frederick's residence during the course of his work as a police informant who served as Fourth Amendment-evading eyes and ears for local law-enforcement.
That burglar reported seeing marijuana plants growing in Frederick's home. In fact, while the resident apparently did grow a few illegal plants at one time for his own use, the crop the burglar spotted appears to have been an unrelated and perfectly legal plant -- at least, police found only a small baggie of grass when they raided the place.
And raid they did. Ryan Frederick was in bed when he heard his door being knocked down. Fearing a return of the earlier burglars, he retrieved a gun and opened fire on his assailants, killing Shivers. During the trial, Frederick's neighbors testified that police made no audible announcement of their law-enforcement status, giving the man inside no warning of who he faced.
For his act of self defense, Frederick was convicted of voluntary manslaughter by a jury, which rejected stiffer charges, but also recommended a maximum sentence of ten years.
It's impossible to treat this incident outside the context of similar violent, paramilitary raids, which have resulted in dead people, dead pets, terrorized familes and growing divisions between good people and the law-enforcement officers who use such tactics. In the past few days, I've heard from Anita Culosi, whose son Salvatore, an optometrist, was gunned down by police in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the course of a SWAT raid over alleged sports gambing. I've also heard from Cheye Calvo, Mayor of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, whose two dogs were killed during a misfired SWAT raid on his home.
Both Culosi and Calvo are pursuing justice in their respective cases, as well as reforms to ensure that nobody else has to go through what they've suffered.
Which brings us back to Ryan Frederick. Frederick was lucky; unlike Salvatore Culosi, he survived the ordeal. But whereas Officer Deval Bullock was suspended for three weeks without pay for killing Culosi -- a penalty many of his fellow officers found too harsh -- Frederick will likely spend years in prison for killing Shivers.
Treat people as if they're the equals of police officers? What a radical idea.
Here's a more radical idea: Curtail the use of D-Day-style SWAT raids for the enforcement of laws against nonviolent activity.
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Contact J.D.: civilliberties (at) tuccille.com
Comments
Expect more of this with Holder is AG. Not a fan of pot and has no problem upholding unconstitutional "laws".
Also, ANYONE kicking in my door or windows will be shot, as many times as I can, especially terrorists by the name of SWAT.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security
Excellent article. Keep up the good fight. We appreciate it.
I just don't understand this outcome. What did the jury hear that could weigh more heavily than, say, the neighbors testifying that "police made no audible announcement" ?
Here's hoping for a swift reversal upon appeal - and the rejection of lazy and dangerous "no-knock" warrants everywhere.
Well isn't there something we can do, like demand an appeal for him? if enough people email (someone) won't they have to take another look?
On the other hand, the jury did find him guilty which means they were compelled to do so by some type of evidence.
"All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."
Isn't SWAT an Al Quida name ???? Sort of like Bin Laudin ??? See I can't even spell muslim names!!! I'v been there when the judge told the jury to believe ONLY the cops!! They had to accept ONLY the cops' testimony!! Most of the time the system makes sure there are several cops (retired preferably) on the jury, Remember the prosecuter has control over the jury pool, and anyone who has some legal training or experience with the law won't be allowed on the jury....if they tell the truth.... also remember the judge and prosecuter listen in on the jury procedings---the place is bugged!!! In Lee county Fla there is a secret stairway and place where the judge and prosecuter can confer in secret! Also remember what it says on the building Just-Us (our duty is to control the hated taxpayer!!!!!) The BLUE WALL IS ABSOLUTE
Great article - you are right on the money.
This is local news at my Va home and just as appalling. Great idea for the cops to bust down a door with a tip from a criminal. LOSERS!!!!
hahaha. if this happened all the time, i bet the gestapo b*stards would quit enforcing illegal laws.
Thankfully he wasn't convicted of murder, but this is still an outrage.
its a shame this couldn't happen to more of these fascist bastards!
Hi J.D. Having been a property owner in Virginia I can tell you Virginia has Castle laws. Knowing constitutional rights means that a person can buy and own a weapon of lethal force to protect themself in their own house, and the state laws cannot countermand that.
Now comes the police, that, buy the way should have knocked on the door and produced a warrant, and they proceed to violate a mans civil rights. If the Federal courts don't intervene in this case I see as being the very first police state action condoned by the fine state of Virginia. Think, due process J.D. it is the only thing that separates Americans from absolutely everyone else. Without it you have lost the rights and safety of your home(castle).
Also, remember the jury is made up of simple people that are able to be "influenced" by the judge and prosecutor and the D.A. and the cops, etc...etc...etc....
Happy Days!
Be Blessed;
Harm..............:)
Its time to hold these punk ass cops responsible for all the corrupt and unethical stuff they do.
SWAT is the new SS. SWAT has hired people to perform a criminal act by breaking into this guys home to gather "evidence" against the homeowner?? Tyrants are surrounding us. These tyrants wear black robes and others are members of the "Blue Wall"!! Americans are at the breaking point!!
Just stand there patriotic America. The Rich Men of the World are coming for all your liberty.
They plan to Kill many of Us. Even your very young Sons & Daughters youso cherish as you watch them grow & play in the Yard or park.
You cannot even protect them now in ythe u.s. of America because......Criminals control the Law for the Rich Men in the World.
Thee VERY Rich men.
Google the documentary, "Iron Mountain".
Watch it. It is Real.
The Plans being Implemented against America are exactlly as this report states.
Stand and fight or die.
Where are My Countrymen who believe in Real Justice & Liberty??
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