Houston police: 4 officers wounded, 2 of 3 suspects dead

[ZX9RCAM]

I was watching the news yesterday.

The police stated that a brownish powder substance was previosly purchased from the home, by a CI, that "looked" like heroin.

 

[toddnjoyce]

The affidavit details the grounds for the warrant: the statements of a CI and a single buy made by that CI while under HPD observation.

That's enough to get a no-knock warrant? Interesting...

Kind of makes the emotion-filled diatribe by the PD union guy look bad.

I heard what he was saying, but I was thinking this better be clean.

 

[sharkey]

The affidavit details the grounds for the warrant: the statements of a CI and a single buy made by that CI while under HPD observation.

That's enough to get a no-knock warrant? Interesting...

Yeah pretty common, what more do you think should happen?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[baboon]

Yeah pretty common, what more do you think should happen?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

What happened to testing the "LOOKED LIKE HEROIN", or did the informant get to shoot it?

 

[jrbfishn]

Yeah pretty common, what more do you think should happen?

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Since when is looks like an excuse for risking lives?
They don't test drugs anymore?

Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[oldag]

I wont say it's not possible, but a lot goes into planning the execution of one of these warrants.

Either the case agent or CI will have made several buys at the location.

Before you hit the house, typically you're gonna do a few drive bys, possibly diagram the house based on the exterior views and maybe what your CI tells you. That way you'll know ahead of time of the have cameras, dogs or fortifications you have to deal with on entry. Normally if its fortified and an explosive breach is needed SWAT will run the warrant.

Once you have that take care of that, you write your tactical plan. This is plan covers how the whole operation will go down and it's on paper and usually tac plans have to be reviewed by a supervisor. Everyone that will participate in the OP must be at the briefing where you go over the tac plan.

My point is that it's a pretty redundant process. If they hit the wrong house, a lot of things went wrong prior to them serving the warrant.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Yet they do hit the wrong house from time to time, in spite of procedures.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I was watching the news yesterday.

The police stated that a brownish powder substance was previosly purchased from the home, by a CI, that "looked" like heroin.

Especially interesting since they were supposedly looking for "black tar" heroin.

 

[benenglish]

Yeah pretty common, what more do you think should happen?

• Confirm that the brown stuff is actually heroin.
• Actually watch the house for a few days (or even a few hours) to see what sort of volume they're moving.
• While watching the house, see if it's possible to discern a pattern of movement and behavior that would enable arresting the principles outside of space they nominally control.
• Make a couple of buys by LEOs so that the affidavit for the warrant doesn't live or die on the quality of the search of the CI, something that can't be confirmed at this point.

That would be a nice start. I'm sure I could think of more.

My experience with how much investigation should precede direct action is apparently not in sync with the way HPD undercover drug enforcement works. Live and learn, I suppose.

 

[smittyb]

KPRC just reported it was tested positive for heroin.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

KPRC just reported it was tested positive for heroin.

Good to find out 3-4 days later....

 

[benenglish]

KPRC just reported it was tested positive for heroin.

Funny, the affidavit didn't mention the test. Did they say how it was tested?

Field test kits for drugs can turn up positive results when tested on all sorts of things, from drywall to OTC medicine to common food items. Those test kits are absolute crap and are literally not supposed to be used as evidence. They provide probable cause to make an arrest but that's all. They're good for making a roadside arrest when a traffic stop turns up something but basing a serious, we're-all-decked-out-to-kick-some-ass entry on one would be insane.

Given the timeline as I understand it, I seriously doubt there was time for a reliable lab to test the sample and confirm it was heroin.

There are plenty of sources to read on this subject. This is just the first one that popped up on Google for me.

 

[SQLGeek]

Especially interesting since they were supposedly looking for "black tar" heroin.

Black tar can be brown to black in color. Wonder if we'll ever hear more about this case?

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Black tar can be brown to black in color. Wonder if we'll ever hear more about this case?

But it's not powdered.

 

[Bithabus]

Drug dealers have been known to switch street signs and house numbers. Then Google Earth came along.

 

[SQLGeek]

But it's not powdered.

It can be.

"It has a varying consistency depending on manufacturing methods, cutting agents, and moisture levels, tarry goo in unrefined form to a uniform, light-brown powder when further processed and cut with lactose." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tar_heroin

 

[sharkey]

What happened to testing the "LOOKED LIKE HEROIN", or did the informant get to shoot it?

I dunno, ask HPD narcotics.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[sharkey]

Since when is looks like an excuse for risking lives?
They don't test drugs anymore?

Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

I dunno what HPD did. Did they say they specifically did not test it? You know, long before the little test kits we're available, we did do just that. All that to say is it does not look like a case of swatting and I would guess the CI was credible in the past.
What we have here is a rush to judgment that these officers overstepped their bounds. Pretty common around here. True recidivism rates are higher but you can have dealers with no criminal record. Those are the good ones. Me, I am sorry 5 officers got shot.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[andre3k]

Press Conference today regarding this incident. It will answer most of the questions about this.


https://www.pscp.tv/w/1vOxwZNOldvJB

 

[AustinN4]

https://www.click2houston.com/...ootout-that-injured-5-officers
= Page Not Found (404 Error)

 

[sharkey]

• Confirm that the brown stuff is actually heroin.
• Actually watch the house for a few days (or even a few hours) to see what sort of volume they're moving.
• While watching the house, see if it's possible to discern a pattern of movement and behavior that would enable arresting the principles outside of space they nominally control.
• Make a couple of buys by LEOs so that the affidavit for the warrant doesn't live or die on the quality of the search of the CI, something that can't be confirmed at this point.
  
  
  My experience with how much investigation should precede direct action is apparently not in sync with the way HPD undercover drug enforcement works. Live and learn, I suppose.

• 
  
  Maybe if DEA was gonna pounce on a cartel member here there would be days of surveillance but you are living in a dream world of you think that happens locally.
  Who is to say UCs did not watch the house for a pattern and even if they did not, that is not reason enuff to not run the warrant.
  Make a couple buys from LEOs?? C'mon. That is the reason why CIs are used and as I already stated, I am guessing this is not a new CI his first time out.
  
  Yep, your experience is not in synch with HPD. If I need some porn advice around here, I am asking you first.
  
  
  Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk