Family files $20M lawsuit after fatal SWAT raid

Via MENTAL PINPRICKS

Good to go! Of course, tax payers have to pick up the tab.
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The family of a former-marine killed during a SWAT raid at his home, filed a $20 million dollar lawsuit against several agencies this week.

Vanessa Guerena, the wife of former Marine Jose Guerena, filed the lawsuit against the Pima County Sheriff's office, Pima County, Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, the Town of Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and several members of the Regional SWAT team.

Chris Scileppi says he is filing the lawsuit to send a strong message to law enforcement officers everywhere. Was a SWAT team warranted to issue this search warrant?

"We are not living in a police state here. There is still a bill of rights. There is still a constitution. Under certain circumstances of course it's warranted to send a SWAT team in, but not this," said Scileppi.

He said the eight seconds officers gave Guerena was not enough time for anyone who was asleep, to respond. Scileppi also said, Guerena was armed with a rifle because he believed someone was trying to break into his home, and was not aware it was police officers outside.

In statements, SWAT team members said they were told they would be entering the home of an "armed and dangerous" man.

Scileppi says officers fired 71 rounds into the home, 22 of which hit Jose Guerena.

All of this happened while his wife and child were in another room.

New video released by the sheriff's department on Friday shows Vanessa Guerena being dragged out of her home. It shows Vanessa Guerena and her 4-year old child crying outside, while SWAT team officials raided their home.

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