32 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumblePublished Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 | 1:59 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009 | 4:14 p.m.
New information in the controversial SWAT raid of a Seven Hills home is raising more questions about the manner in which Metro executed the narcotics search warrant that resulted in the resident firing shots at officers.
Viewers tonight will see exclusive video of the home after the raid where the sought-after cocaine was not found and hear from the suspect's girlfriend about what was going on inside as police stormed the house.
Police and the District Attorney have portrayed the suspect, Emmanuel Dozier, as an unemployed drug kingpin and pimp. We've got copies of check stubs that show Dozier was indeed employed as a sheet metal worker. We asked the police about the discrepancy but they refused to comment, nor would they explain why an inventory of items seized does not include the marijuana and paraphenalia police told the media they found. Dozier's girlfriend, Belinda Saavedra, maintains no drugs were in the home and passed two drug tests immediately following the raid. The D.A. is charging Saavedra, who has an infant, with abuse and neglect for not having a job. Prosecutor Ron Cordes told me Saavedra's unemployed status alone would not generate charges, but "the criminal environment" warranted the complaint.
We asked police to tell us the cost of engaging SWAT to arrest, if the accusations are true, what appears to be a small-time dealer. Police refuse to answer but a Metro spokesman did tell me extreme measures are necessary to guard against "some liberal judge" throwing out the case.
Both of the individuals have previous convictions on their rap sheets having to do with drugs and prostitution. How does a drug dealer and prostitute afford to live in an upscale neighborhood without visible means of support?
Drug dealing and prostitution must pay more than ordinary middle class jobs, huh?
And how do you know both of these individuals have rap sheets? Are you one of the cops involved in this blotched raid. Or are you just pulling this from you $#@
Who cares if they do or do not have rap sheets? The apparent facts in this case show a gross abuse of power and trampling of rights by Metro. This stinks to high heaven.
If they served their time for whatever crime they committed in the past, and have not be re-arrested or convicted of any other crimes recently, than why does their record even matter?
Metro isn't talking because they screwed up and don't want to admit it. They never admit when they are wrong, just like prosecutors will never admit they are wrong.
What the He%# happened to ethics and morals? The cops and prosecutors are more dangerous these days than the criminals, in fact, they are criminals with a badge and think they can do whatever they want.
Time for Metro and the DA to start cleaning it's own house before they kill or incarcerate some innocent person. Oh, wait, haven't they done that already?
Silly me.
They're just hoping the public has a fickle memory. Cuz it does = (
So you're telling me that we can now judge a person's present guilt based completely on past guilt? We don't even need evidence anymore? What a relief! All we have to do is pull up rap sheets from former criminals and raid their homes, take their kids and put them all in jail and the crime problem will be COMPLETELY solved?! And while we're at it, let's just throw out the freaking Constitution.
If we are to have a justice system that works, it must be able to answer tough questions when mistakes are made. Our system is run by human beings and human beings make mistakes.
If a mistake has been made here, don't you want to know that or would you rather just close your eyes and allow lives to be ruined so you can sleep at night? Careful, next time it could be you.
SEVERAL OF THE COMMENTS HERE ARE VERY ENLIGHTENING AS TO WHAT THE PUBLIC BELIEVES OUR POLICE FORCE IS CAPABLE OF DOING. FORCE IS EMPHACIZED! FOLKS, THIS IS REAL HEROIC LAW ENFORCEMENT--AT ITS BEST.
THE IDEA THAT POLICE ARE PERMITTED TO USE SOMETHING A COURT WOULDN'T ALLOW STATED WITHOUT PROPER FOUNDATION, AKA PAST POLICE RECORDS. TO POISON THE PUBLIC, AND THEREFORE, THE JURY POOL IS DISGUSTING, BUT HEY! "IT IS YOU POLICE FORCE"
YOU LOVE 'EM. YOU LIVE WITH THEM. BY THE WAY, IT WASN'T A FELONY ON MR. DOZIER'S PART. SO WHY IS THE POLICE HIDING AND TRYING SO HARD TO DISCREDIT MR. DOZIER? THINK SOMETHING SMELLS IN DENMARK?
NOW, WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH A COP CALLING SOMEONE "A LIBERAL JUDGE", AS THE ONE WHO WILL DISMISS--IF THE COPS DON'T COME DOWN HARD ON A CITIZEN? MY GOD, HAS THIS STATE NO SHAME?
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THE COPS NEEDED TO RUIN A HOME TO SEARCH IT? SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION OF OTHERS PROPERTY--IF WHAT THEY ARE AFTER --ISN'T?
FOLKS! LIVE IN YOUR DELUDED WORLD--YOU MAY BE NEXT...
HENDERSON IS DISGUSTING AND TO USE METRO AS AN ALLY IS PUTRID TO THE SMELL. LIVE LONG
OOPS! SPELLING IS WRONG, I MEANT TO SAY: "EMPHASIZE."
SORRY ABOUT THAT...
If the marijuana and paraphernalia was not on the inventory list of things found in the house then they were OBVIOUSLY not in the house but falsely added by police after the fact. Whomever signed that report should be the one up on charges. There's no doubt about that.
I ask CPS "what criminal environment are they talking about? There is no report or history on either adult that these kids were in a "criminal environment"....Oh yeah I forgot they must be talking about the Criminal Metro Police who have lied to cover up their gross mistakes and the beating of Mr. Dozier and the excessive force against the child and girlfriend. How about CPS investigating these police officer's home and take their kids away....
The bottom line is, it doesn't matter whether or not you LIKE Dozier or Saavedra. Are we willing to stand by and allow the police force to trump a person's rights because they have a past?
And really, we should HOPE that ANY judge throws this out! If we allow this kind of arbitrary adherence to procedure (and let's face it, honesty) in our justice system, we are ALL in trouble.
Wow... I'm unemployed, along with over 9% of Nevadans... hope some trumped-up drug charges don't get thrown at all of us...
Coppers should be given exploding neck collars. All citizens that are free of felony arrests should be given the button.
We see this for what it is. Discrimination.
I'll take the Metro PD SWAT team over a bunch of pimps and prostitutes and drug dealers any day of the week.
"I'll take the Metro PD SWAT team over a bunch of pimps and prostitutes and drug dealers..."
You must throw really boring parties.
It is sad to hear more stories about police abuse and mismanagement. The US has more than twice as many people in jail per capita THAN any other country. This is not because this country is made up of more criminals, it is because our justice system and police are out of control. Nobody get justice or fairness in this country unless they are rich.
We have stupid puritanical out dated laws. They are really designed to just make more money for people who run jails (a $60 billion dollar industry), for lawyers, and lots of judges and judicial people on government payroll.
Our legal system is about self preservation, expansion of power and making money. Justice in the US is not only blind it is corrupt.
Kudos Bob635. Well said.
Maybe that's why kids don't have good morals these days - when people think you have to have pimps, prostitutes and drugs in order to have a successful party. I've been to many parties without any of the above - some even without alcohol and trust me a lot of fun was had by all - hard to believe but not everyone needs to get drunk, stoned or laid at a party to have fun.
2009 "Maybe that's why kids don't have good morals these days"
1959 "Maybe that's why kids don't have good morals these days"
1929 "Maybe that's why kids don't have good morals these days"
I like to think we are what we notice. Is that all you notice? Bad morals? T'sk t'sk. There is so much more.
And who said anything about having to have them in order to have fun? That's your stuff Poncho. I just said I would rather go to their party than the cops party.
You should go to the cops party. Please. I'll have fun. And you'll have fun deriding the fun I must be having and gloating in your moral superiority. It's perfect for everybody!
johnvegas, well said. Sure made me smile.
Spartacus, keep it up.
texastaverniers, you hit it on the head.
Who cares about your idea of a good party, afveteran.
The point of this is that this is America and we have a RIGHT to be safe in our homes.
I'm a product of the 50's/60's and I know one thing - if a girl was pregnant and not married it WAS considered shameful and the girl DID feel embarrassment - and if she was still in school she stayed home. Times have changed, as have morals, because it's like no big deal to still be in high-school and turn up pregnant - if you honestly believe the morals of today mirror those of earlier generations you must come from another planet.
"I'm a product of the 50's/60's and I know one thing - if a girl was pregnant and not married it WAS considered shameful..."
In the 50s/60s, whites dating blacks was also considered immoral. Update yourself man!!! WE just elected a president who DID inhale and WE knew about it!
I give you this much, I think a single mother on welfare willfully bringing 14 children into the world is both immoral and criminal. I don't give a damn whether sex was involved or not.
Please enlighten me. I don't understand what an unwed mother has to do with being safe in you home.
Police had no business raiding that home period. With young kids inside things could have gotten worst. They are just a bunch of thugs with badges. They know that they can go to the corners inquest and get off, for anything including murder.
This story is troubling, but also troubling is the journalism of Dana Gentry. Nice end to the story Dana! Maybe you could put the actual quote stated by the police instead of three words in quotes surrounded by your sentence. Try just reporting the story as it is without your own twist on it. I am sick of hearing the BS from both sides in journalism. Just report the damn story. If someone says something stupid, put the entire statement in quotes along with the person who stated it. Don't pick and choose which words to print to stir up controversy. I can't watch news anymore without hearing the left crap on one news channel and the right crap on the other. Seems like the same situation on these posts. Can I just get the story please?
Hi johnmanrules:
Thanks for your comments. I do not have Metro spokesman Jay Rivera's words verbatim, as the police refused to be interviewed on camera. However, in response to my repeated questions about the use of force, Officer Rivera responded that I was right - if anything, Dozier is a small-time dealer and if the police don't go to these lengths some liberal judge will throw out the case. That is close to word for word. The controversy exists without me "picking and choosing" anything. In the interest of accuracy I don't like to quote someone when I did not record the words, however my recall is quite good. Thanks again for your comments.
No one in his right mind would want pimps, prostitutes, and drug dealers all rolled up into one family like the one that was living in the 7 Hills subdivision. I applaud the actions of the Metro commanding officers for the action to bring this guy to justice with overpowering firepower. This event generated a lot of buzz in the drug underworld, as their minions are out in force in this discussion. I can only let out a hearty laugh at this!
wow, what a d**k thing to say afveteran. So you assume that everyone siding with the idea that Metro acted foolishly and possibly illegally is a pimp, prostitute, or a drug dealer?
What a small mind.
AFVETERAN
First off, being a "veteran" thought you would have gotten your FACTS straight before you say that my family was "PIMPS, PROSTITUTES and DRUG DEALERS". Have you got proof that no one else seems to have that my family is what you are calling them. Use your experience you gained in the military and wait until you have your facts and proof. You are a veteran who probably is in need of some help, do you have PST? And now you are saying that everyone who is supporting my family is in the "drug underworld"....I am Laughing at you.
Strange comments from the drug underworld make me laugh out loud everytime.
This commentary is funny if you read behind the lines by the dope dealers.
If Mr Dozier didn't take an elbow to the face playing basketball before the cops showed up, what are we gonna call that black eye he's sportin'? I realize that gunshot wounds 3 of the officers received during this operation are alot more serious, and I hope those officers aren't seriously injured, but I also believe I understand how that happened. Considering all the communication that was taking place between people in the house, 911, and all the law enforcement they could dial up, how did this man end up with that shiner? Perhaps since he's described as a drug dealing pimp we can just overlook that part? Scare the crap out of everyone..black an eye or two, but at least nobody died?? Lovely.. just friggin' LOVELY! I don't condone selling drugs for a living, but there's alot of unanswered questions here that really need answering..