No Knock Raids Extremely Dangerous For Police

SOMERVILLE, TX– Last December, Henry Goedrich Magee was sleeping peacefully with his pregnant girlfriend when authorities entered his home in a “no-knock” raid around 6 a.m. With no warning, or search warrant, police swarmed Magee’s home searching for marijuana and guns. Magee believed the police were thieves and reached for his gun, which he legally owned. He opened fire and shot Sgt. Adam Sowders, who died at the scene.


The raid turned up a small number of marijuana plants and seedlings, as well as Magee’s legal guns.


A grand jury decided on Wednesday that the incident could have happened to any homeowner in a similar situation, and declined to indict Magee for capital murder. “He did what a lot of people would have done,” said Magee’s attorney Dick DeGuerin. ‘He defended himself and his girlfriend and his home.’ Magee was indicted for possession of marijuana while in possession of a deadly weapon, which is a third degree felony.

This case breaks new ground in Texas. Magee’s attorney, who has been practicing law for many years, couldn’t recall an incident where a grand jury refused to charge a defendant in the death of an officer.

DeGuerin said sheriff’s deputies did not knock on the door or announce who they were when they entered the home, but Julie Renken, the district attorney for Burleson County, disagrees.

“I believe the evidence…shows that an announcement was made,” Renken said. “However, there is not enough evidence that Mr. Magee knew that day that Peace Officers were entering his home.” The police weren’t wearing body cameras during the raid.

Magee is still in custody for his marijuana possession charge, but will soon be released on bond.

A cop is dead because they were trying to bust this peaceful citizen for having week.



It's 2014

A cop is dead because they were trying to bust this peaceful citizen for having week.

Well, he was busting a citizen who was growing and likely selling something that is still considered an illegal drug.

Without warning or search warrant.

Where do you get the "likely selling" part? Just made it up?

The warning was a mistake. Are you sure they didn't have a search warrant? That would seem unlikely.
Do you think cops are busting down doors at 6am with no warning searching for marijuana and guns if they think he simply has a marijuana plant for his own use? I think that is unlikely. There had to be something that led to this specific house.

That is why I used the term "likely selling". That seems like quite an over the top reaction unless there was strong suspicion he was more than just growing for himself.

1.) The article says there was no search warrant.

2.) Law enforcement has faulty intelligence all the time. And it's already pretty clear that these cops weren't really doing this "by the book". I see no reason to assume he was selling the weed.

Most likely the cops busted someone and gave em a notepad and a pen and said write down some names of people we can check out for drugs/etc and we'll go easy on you and that's how they ended up breaking down this guy's door at 6 am.

Whoever ratted out Magee picked the wrong guy to squeal on.

So how did they even know about this then?

Something doesn't add up. How does he shoot a cop and the other officers at the scene not unload everything they have on the guy.

Something doesn't add up. How does he shoot a cop and the other officers at the scene not unload everything they have on the guy.

Do you think cops are busting down doors at 6am with no warning searching for marijuana and guns if they think he simply has a marijuana plant for his own use?

In spite of myriad scandals involving police, and their illegal and un-American activities throughout time, it's good to know some citizens still have faith in our law enforcement officials.

The homeowner might have a civil case against the police if they really had no warrant.
How does that happen that someone gets their door kicked in with no warrant?

If you aren't doing anything wrong, why do you care if cops kick your door down?

How does that happen that someone gets their door kicked in with no warrant?

He was growing currently illegal drugs though. You think they just got lucky that they happened to find what they were looking for?

I'm not sure if this was meant rhetorically, but we both know some police officers feel they are above the law and regulations of the department. You cant honestly say you are surprised, I wouldn't think. Hell, even the FBI raids the wrong house and shoots innocent people like at least once a year.

Hell, even the FBI raids the wrong house and shoots innocent people like at least once a year.

If you aren't doing anything wrong, why do you care if cops kick your door down?

It's certainly possible. Weed is a pretty popular drug. It's not like he was operating a meth lab.