The guy had a pipe, some resin, and less than a gram. Big time drug dealer?, I think not. Yeah it's bad the dog got shot. I understand the danger of the dogs but seriously one of them was a ferocious let all hell loose 25lb corgi. I mean their was what 6 officers with high powered rifles and body armor. I mean the pit was understandable, those are dangerous dogs in some cases. Although this pit wasn't even full grown only 6-8mos old and wasn't even trained to be a viscous dog. This whole situation is a fubar snafu. They sent out a swat team to go get a guy with a pipe. I mean really didn't they have anything better to do. This is getting really out of hand. You can't send a swat team to my neighbors house just because I see them smoking a joint on their porch, and I call the cops and tell them they are a big time drug dealer. Sure if you want come out and question them, but send a swat team, wtf mate. Think of it as reverse and imagine if the informant was just wanting to get at you for some reason. Hmmm, let me call the cops and get them to give you a little "visit". That will fix your night right up.
IMO, its irrelevant if the dogs were caged or not caged. This was a clear and cut case of use of excessive force by the police department. Even if the guy had priors, you can't go on the word of an informant. You should set up a surveillance team to watch from a distance, if he was a big time drug dealer this would have come to light soon enough. Then you would get the family routines. Hey this guy is home everyday from such and such time, the kids aren't home and then you make your bust. You don't bust down the door in the middle of the night (incident happened at 20:27) and shoot the family pets in front of 2 kids. Then find out oops your just a stoner, with a pipe, and less than a gram. Well, sorry bout the dogs and terrorizing your children. Here's your misdemeanor charge.
