doesn't there need to be a reason for home search?

[just_curious]

I am just curious (as the name implies) ...what are the reasons for a law enforcement dept to search a home? Can they legally search because they "once saw a car in the driveway that looked like a criminal's car"? (It was a rather common car).

I am always cooperative with the police, and only have dealings with them when getting the occassional speeding ticket. But last night my husband and I were rather suprised (putting it mildly) when there was a knock on the door and we were greeted by 5 guys with machine guns who asked us out of the house while they "looked for someone". We cooperate and are a bit in shock, esp. since we live away from town; its a small quite town away from major cities. We get outside where there are about three more guys waiting. We are then questioned about some guy they are looking for and basically accused of know and associating with this guy (neither my husband or I are anything close to the criminal type!!). Then one of them says he knows this guy has been to our house because he has seen his car there himself! It was a car neither one of us own, nor do we know anyone that owns one. It wasn't until later my husband remembered he rented a similar car for a business trip a few weeks ago. Can they do that to us just for having a similar, popular model car in the driveway once? I know the police serve an important purpose and I don't want to cause a stink, but I feel very unsafe after that incident. My husband goes out of town from time to time and I don't like not feeling comfortable being alone. Am I over reacting or were they?

[sbrad]

I am just curious (as the name implies) ...what are the reasons for a law enforcement dept to search a home? Can they legally search because they "once saw a car in the driveway that looked like a criminal's car"? (It was a rather common car).

I am always cooperative with the police, and only have dealings with them when getting the occassional speeding ticket. But last night my husband and I were rather suprised (putting it mildly) when there was a knock on the door and we were greeted by 5 guys with machine guns who asked us out of the house while they "looked for someone". We cooperate and are a bit in shock, esp. since we live away from town; its a small quite town away from major cities. We get outside where there are about three more guys waiting. We are then questioned about some guy they are looking for and basically accused of know and associating with this guy (neither my husband or I are anything close to the criminal type!!). Then one of them says he knows this guy has been to our house because he has seen his car there himself! It was a car neither one of us own, nor do we know anyone that owns one. It wasn't until later my husband remembered he rented a similar car for a business trip a few weeks ago. Can they do that to us just for having a similar, popular model car in the driveway once? I know the police serve an important purpose and I don't want to cause a stink, but I feel very unsafe after that incident. My husband goes out of town from time to time and I don't like not feeling comfortable being alone. Am I over reacting or were they?

If it happened exactly the way you are stating it, I don't think I could have justified doing it myself. But tell me this. When you answered the door, did they say something like, "we think this guy is here. would you mind if we take a look?", or was it more of a, "we are going to search your house. stand here and smile."?

[coucousis]

If it really happened as you said.... NO!!!

I would be mad if someone would pull over at my house whit machine guns and no search warrant .... looking for a criminals that never got there in the first place...

Just call the chief and have him explain the attitude of his deputy...! See what he comes up with ?

That story just seem wrong to me!!!

[Group9]

If this really happened, and you really feel this way, why don't you try making a complaint at the police department instead of finding a police forum, joining, and then posting your problem?

Just curious, myself.



.

[darrell]

If this really happened, and you really feel this way, why don't you try making a complaint at the police department instead of finding a police forum, joining, and then posting your problem?

Just curious, myself.



.

agreed

[coucousis]

ROFLOL DC....:D:D!!!!

[Cobra]

I second the BS.

Machine Guns? WTF? Never seen machine guns at a PD before.

[mcsap]

If the police came to your house and thought a truly bad person might be inside ( hiding or otherwise) you could say " no thanks, my husband and I have guns and we will clear it ourslves" OR you could let them in to look for this guy, they were not doing a "search" of your property but apparently did what they did with your permission.

[sbrad]

Ok, you've been called out by DC and the Whipper Snapper. The gig is up, see. We aint playin, see. We know your angle, see.
Nah, just kidding. Just answer my question. Did they ask you or tell you?

[just_curious]

They never showed us a warrant, and at first they implied there was a criminal spotted in the area they thought might be hiding in our house. My husband and I both thought they meant someone might have broke in and was hiding in our house somewhere ...it was only after they entered did they start in with saying we had to know this guy and that we were protecting him. We kept saying we never heard of him and they just kept saying "come on now, tell us the truth we KNOW he's been here!"

This morning after I calmed down some (it was scary for a wimp like me) we stopped by the sheriff's office and were told it wasn't their guys (why were there two sherriff's cars there?) and they gave me the number for the head local drug task force. I called him and he acted suprised and wasn't sure who it could have been from his division and furthermore why they were even looking for the guy they were asking about because they had found out he left town. He took my number and said he would look into it, but hasn't called me back yet. Like I said before, I don't want to make a big stink and don't want to overreact, but it was creepy! Also, I am nervous about filing a complaint because I don't want to be viewed as a trouble-maker, but at the same time it has all made me feel very uneasy. Besides, where would I file a complaint if all departments are saying "it wasn't me"?

[sbrad]

I don't understand why you can't answer the question, so I'll ask it again.
Did they or did they not ask your permission to enter your house????????

[just_curious]

I say 'machine gun" because it was a big gun and thats all I know about guns, but my husband informed me they were MP5's (whatever that is)

[mcsap]

You are on the track with the head of the drug task force but who does he work for ? The DA, State Police DEA or ?? You may want to give him a couple more days to look into this and than contact him back. Also , the Sheriff is involved although to a minimal degree. They usually want local PD along so you see a "familiar" face.

[coucousis]

So you did let them in after they explained you the situation.... They went in with your consent.... !!!! That is a different story...

You just did not like the questions they asked you afterward rigth???? You felt intimidated?

Well I'm not gonna be of much help here but if you did invite them in ... then life goes on...

As for where to file your complaint... I don't know.. I guess the first thing I would notice would be who is at the door and what police departement they are if it is not from my local Sheriff Dept....

Now if you don't want to file a complaint.... Then life goes on.. you don't need our advice... If you do.... I'm sure your Sherrif dept will do everything in their power to find out who did this... since it would be considered as an home invasion by armed and unknown individual.... Until they find out who they are!!!

[txinvestigator1]

Of course they did, the OP said yes. Now they have time to think about it and want to takesy backsey.