The reporter’s note above the whotv.com account of this Iowa SWAT team no-knock raid says it all (save Radley Balko’s WaPo takedown): “We have some new information regarding the story we reported Monday night on a search warrant that was executed at a Des Moines home. The search was conducted to recover about $1,000 worth of items purchased with a stolen credit card. Ankeny police spokeswoman Captain Makai Echer says they consider several factors when deciding whether to send officers similar to a SWAT team to a house to serve a warrant, or simply knock on the door. In this case . . .
Echer says, officers looked at the suspects’ criminal histories and whether there could be firearms in the home. Of the three suspects that were present in the home, one has a violent arrest record for two assaults about 13-years ago and a domestic assault. Another suspect does have a permit to carry a weapon. Echer would not comment on whether that played a role in the decision. She would also not comment on whether it was appropriate for a police officer to rip a security [camera] from the front of the house after officers had already entered.
Note to judges: it’s time to just say no to no-knock raids.