Wisconsin SWAT Deploys Armored Vehicle to Collect Civil Judgment from 75-Year-Old Man

a reply to: crazyewok

Hey now, they can't let an opportunity to roll out the heavy equipment and show the people who's boss go to waste.

The quoted Captain Bean did say while the old man has never been violent, he has been argumentative in past interactions. I mean had they not brought the tank he may have *gasp* raised his voice at two to three officers with sidearms, batons, OC spray and tazers on their person and semi auto rifles or combat shotguns in their squad cars. They may have had to utilize their "training" and reason with the man if they could stop the piddle running down their legs from said old man's argumentative verbal blitzkrieg.

Police don't have time for that trash anymore, its better to put and keep the fear of God into the general public to keep them as docile and complacent as possible. Captain Bean said as much in the OP's link.

a reply to: NthOther

How many more threads am I going to read like this, and all of the replies are the same (mine included) about the police state is here and we are on a slippery slope. What more has to happen before everyone says this is enough? When we all stand up and say no this is not right. Gather in numbers like never before under a peaceful banner without reference to sex, race or age. They are playing chicken but they are winning as we just keep making excuses and allowing this to happen.


Frustration does come close.

I understand that the old man wasn't getting rid of the things on his land that he said he would, but for the town to resort to this is ridiculous.

He's 75 years old, how harmful can he be?

Was there really no other way to sort this mess out but to call in the military?

These guys were overdoing it, and then some.

a reply to: NthOther

He had three years to comply. No sympathy.

originally posted by: Meldionne1
The guy got into a pissing contest and lost. He should have paid his taxs or abided by zoning laws and he would have been fine. In the past their have been people like this who have had stand offs with police, and then gone nutty shooting, or having hidden explosives /booby traps on their property.....at least no one got hurt or killed. The guy probably doesn't even vote ,but then wines about the laws.

This had nothing to do with taxes. It was a CIVIL judgement that the local sheriff department decided to enforce.

This is a sick and disgusting display of power and, unfortnelately, becoming more and more common in what used to be the USA.

The man has lawyers and it seems he did attempt at taking care of things on his property. I see places like this all the time in the suburbs and they definitely exist in rural areas. So I'd like to know why they are only going after this fella...

I bet they knew exactly how much money he had in the bank, for starters.

The mans CIVIL RIGHTS ARE AND HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. Period. I mean they held up his lawyer at a "road block" for Gods sake.

Is anyone really surprised? We're a country full of civilians that drive hum-vies, stock pile weapons & ammo, prepare for doomsday and entertain ourselves (and our children) playing 'first person shooter' games. Of course the american children who grew up and became police would want to use the most bad-ass equipment possible.

'merica

originally posted by: Spruce
a reply to: NthOther

He had three years to comply. No sympathy.

And that justifies sending in a APC and a 20 strong heavy armed SWAT team?

Surely a couple of ordinary police in a squad car could have done the same job with
1) Less overbearing force
2) Less tax payers money spend
3) Less fear.
4) Less risk of someone getting killed.

This wasn't a cartel ring bust but a idiot who wont pay his court bills!

a reply to: crazyewok

He may have a local reputation that we are unaware of. They wouldn't have gone through all the trouble otherwise.

originally posted by: Spruce
a reply to: crazyewok

He may have a local reputation that we are unaware of. They wouldn't have gone through all the trouble otherwise.

Sources mentioned on here seem to indicate he was not known for violence.

He was one old 70 year old man living alone it seems. I dont see what circumstance would justify a full swat team.

originally posted by: Spruce

He may have a local reputation that we are unaware of. They wouldn't have gone through all the trouble otherwise.

Yes. He had a reputation for being a grumpy old codger. That's all.

Are you saying the police are so scared of one old man that they have to send a small army to his house?

a reply to: NthOther

Its funny how they are so tough in cases like this but cant seem to find/stop Eric Frein. I suspect they are cowards and very afraid of someone with a gun that may just as good or better than they are. In the case of Frein, he has them running scared.

Just imagine what would happen if more Freins started popping up when stuff like this happened.

A bit off topic but does anyone know why Frein went Rambo or is the theory he is just nuts?

It is know as the 1033 program, and it is probably the chief culprit as to why we have seen a five-fold increase in SWAT deployments since the early 1980s. Here is a great link that summarizes it:

www.newsweek.com...

Another interesting fact in the article in case you didn't read the whole thing:
"1033 procurements are not matters of public record. And the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which coordinates distribution of military surplus, refuses to reveal the names of agencies requesting “tactical” items, like assault rifles and MRAPs — for security reasons, a spokesperson for DLA told Newsweek via email. One can only trace “tactical” items as far the county of the requesting agency."

9/11 and the last three administrations have allowing it to ramp up since Waco.
We slipped a whole hell of a long time ago I am afraid.

originally posted by: truckdriver42
a reply to: NthOther

Its funny how they are so tough in cases like this but cant seem to find/stop Eric Frein. I suspect they are cowards and very afraid of someone with a gun that may just as good or better than they are. In the case of Frein, he has them running scared.

Just imagine what would happen if more Freins started popping up when stuff like this happened.

A bit off topic but does anyone know why Frein went Rambo or is the theory he is just nuts?

This is precisely the reason the police are responding in a more hardcore fashion. People are becoming more and more militant and anti-police.

What the hell do you expect? Tea and roses?

a reply to: oblvion

I have to play devils advocate here. Sounds to me like the guy is a douche, and the county was forced into action.

He's 75 mate, 75. when you hose the bull# from this story its basically that this old guy hoarded gear and with some positive communication old guy here would have parted with it, but then nobody would have got any money.

a reply to: NthOther

If precedence is any measure of things, then I'm surprised they didn't wait until he was asleep, raid his house and just shoot him in the head.

and take out his dog too.

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now."

Because the military spend billions on equipment they didn't need so that they could "donate" them to local law enforcement chapters.

It is very clear what is being done here and what the original intent was...they bought these in surplus claimed they purchased too many and now are donating them so they can get some use out of them

Don't think for one second this wasn't the plan all along....

Getting ready for martial law has to have some subtly too it.

originally posted by: kleverone

"People may not always understand why, but an armored vehicle is almost a necessity now."

Because the military spend billions on equipment they didn't need so that they could "donate" them to local law enforcement chapters.

It is very clear what is being done here and what the original intent was...they bought these in surplus claimed they purchased too many and now are donating them so they can get some use out of them

Don't think for one second this wasn't the plan all along....

Getting ready for martial law has to have some subtly too it.

Like all government budgeting, something you may not be aware of is that these surplus equipment donations have use it or lose it clauses attached to them. That is why the police are using them for minor offenses. If they stop using them, they have to give their toys back. It creates a system where people bring new equipment to their territory to look tough on crime, and then have to use it for lesser and lesser offenses in order to justify having it in the first place.

originally posted by: Aazadan


Like all government budgeting, something you may not be aware of is that these surplus equipment donations have use it or lose it clauses attached to them. That is why the police are using them for minor offenses. If they stop using them, they have to give their toys back. It creates a system where people bring new equipment to their territory to look tough on crime, and then have to use it for lesser and lesser offenses in order to justify having it in the first place.

Exactly!!! They know they have to use it so they do. It's like giving a child a new xbox at Christmas and telling them that if they don't play with it then it will be taken away. Well what kid wouldn't play with it? What police force wouldn't want to drive around in their new toy? The Government knew what it was doing, knew how to implement the use of them and knew that the police would be compliant.

It's time.

How many properties in rural USA have old stuff laying around the yard? Mountains of crap and old rusty things?

Most places have ordinances against it and many properties have courts orders against them.

How many are acted upon by the local government?

How many had this law enforcement agency acted upon?

If the guy had not thousands of dollars in the bank, would they have acted upon him? Heck, they "escorted" him to the bank.