Man to claim self-defense for DEA agent in predawn drug raid
At issue: whether Joel Robinson, 32, is guilty of a crime for shootinga DEA agent in the first few seconds of a surprise federal law enforcement raid last October at his Orangeburg house.
Agents expected to find a cache of drugs, but a search of the premises found nothing but a small amount of marijuana for recreational use, according to legal records in the case.
Robinson is expected to claim self-defense, saying he did what any citizen would have in assuming he was the target of a home invasion – grabbing a gun and firing a half-dozen shots in the direction of those he assumed were home invaders.
During the trial, the prosecution is expected to claim that law officers on the scene announced themselves loudly, initiated flashing blue lights and sirens as they broke a side window in the house, and that, in any case, it is against the law to shoot a federal law officer in the performance of his official duties.
In addition to seeking a guilty finding from the jury, federal prosecutors also want Robinson to forfeit his house and four pistols, four rifles and two shotguns found at his house.
Filed under: General Problems
Yeah right…they had the sirens and lights going for a drug bust at 6am…maybe on TV….these types of busts are No Knock warrants. Be interesting to see what comes out in the testimony, wonder if there were dashcams. I would react the same way he did, thinking someone was busting into my home and the the first thing I’d be reaching for is my firearm to protect myself and my loved ones. Someone on one of the print news sites commented nowadays any bad guy can do a home invasion and yell ‘Police”…….how are you supposed to know the difference. I hope the defendents attorneys blow this wide open. Eventually we will need another test case for SCOtUS on NO KNOCK WARRANTS
“…the prosecution is expected to claim that law officers on the scene announced themselves loudly, initiated flashing blue lights and sirens as they broke a side window in the house…”
Sounds like terrorism to me.