Suspect Arrested in Murder of Burleson County Deputy

[WildBill]

SOMERVILLE, Texas -- A man has been arrested for fatally shooting a sheriff's deputy while he was serving a warrant in Central Texas.

Henry Goedrich Magee, 28, is charged with capital murder of a peace officer. Magee has been booked into the Burleson County Jail on a $1 million bond.

The Burleson County Sheriff's Office says 31-year-old Sgt. Adam Sowders died shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday when a team of eight officers "took fire" while entering a residence just outside of Somerville on County Road 278 near 1361. That's about 90 miles northeast of Austin.

Sowders was hit. No one else was injured.

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Arr ... 26321.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

viewtopic.php?f=83&t=70579" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jmra]

I would assume that he was arrested immediately after the shooting. Will be interesting to see what kind of defense his lawyers will present.
Best wishes to the family of the officer.
ETA:
Guess I don't have to wonder anymore
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/2 ... 94527.html

Another article - warrant was "drug related"
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/texas-de ... was-victim
"DeGuerin said authorities left a copy of the search warrant at Magee's home, as required by law. He said his client had two marijuana plants and several seedlings in his home for "personal use," along with the rifle used in the shooting and several other guns, which the attorney said were all owned legally."

If the officers did not identify themselves this could get very interesting.

[Jumping Frog]

In a different thread, Mr Cotton said: "I regret throwing my comment about methods of entry into my post. That's a topic for another thread; this is a memorial for a fallen officer."

He had previously stated:

I wish the article gave more details about how the warrant was being served. I've made my strong opposition to so-called "no-knock," "feather knocking," or "knock & kick" entries known and I hope one such entry didn't cost this deputy his life.

Prayers for the deputy's family.
Chas.

Well the above linked article states:

But Magee's attorney, Dick DeGuerin of Houston, called the fatal shooting a tragic accident. He said Magee was asleep and didn't know sheriff's deputies were entering his rural home near Somerville, about 90 miles northwest of Houston. "Hank, like any homeowner, defended himself and his pregnant girlfriend," DeGuerin said Monday. DeGuerin said sheriff's deputies did not knock on the door or announce who they were when they entered the home just before 6 a.m. Thursday. "This is something that could have happened to anyone protecting their home at night," he said.

The sheriff's office "did not know" if the deputies office announced themselves, or if there was dashcam video. The spokeswoman stated the deputies were not wearing body cameras.

The County DA did have this point to make:

"I would just keep in mind that he's getting all of his facts from his client," Renken said.

There were two marijuana plants plus a couple seedlings in the house "for personal use". Regardless how one feels about the "war on drugs" or no-knock warrants, I think we'd all agree that they are not worth a man's life, nor are they worth totally destroying the homeowner's life. The question needs to be asked if there was a more effective and safer way to serve these kinds of warrants.

[jmra]

Yep, this is going to get interesting.

[rp_photo]

In my humble opinion, the root cause of this tragedy are draconian outdated marijuana laws which have ruined many more lives that marijuana itself, and I sincerely hope that this point is raised during the trial.

[texanjoker]

3rd hand info from a person that wasnt there. The deputy is being buried today. I also doubt they were hitting a house for personal use. Im sure we will here more as the documents get released.

[Charles L. Cotton]

3rd hand info from a person that wasnt there.

Just as is the case every time a Sheriff or public information officer holds a press conference and states what happened during an event at which they were not present.

I also doubt they were hitting a house for personal use. Im sure we will here more as the documents get released.

Perhaps that was not their intent, but a single plant is hardly a grow house. More importantly, the age old claim that no-knock entry is necessary to prevent destruction of evidence is once again proven false. A plant and seedlings weren't going to be flushed down the toilet in the short time it would have taken to announce who and why they were there. Waking someone from a deep sleep by kicking open a door is an excellent way to get a LEO or innocent homeowner killed.

As much as it pains me to admit this, the war on drugs has been an absolute failure. I'm not in favor of legalizing any, much less all, drugs, but 50 years of doing the same thing is proof enough that it isn't working. Don't ask me for a solution, I don't have one, but that's not justification to continue efforts that everyone admits don't work. Not only are current laws/policies/procedures ineffective, they are far too costly in terms of money and lives.

Chas.

[jmra]

Well stated Mr. Cotton.

[mojo84]

I too agree the no-knock raids are way over utilized and it appears many times results in bad things happening unnecessarily. The death of this deputy is a prime example. If it turns out his death was the of a raid that turned up nothing more than what it appears at this point, a pot plant and a seedling, it is a shame they utilized this method of entry.

Seems like there has to be a more effective safer way to execute some of these warrants without risking people's lives like this. Think of it this way, if it is a small enough amount to flush that quickly with one or two flushes, it it really worth taking a chance on someone dying?

Also, if someone kicks in my door and wakes me from a deep sleep, I too will come out of bed shooting. I'll then check to see who I shot if I am still alive to do so.

I know it is a tough situation and I do not envy the cops but I also think this is part of the militarization of the police and the "war" mindset. Even if it is a war on drugs. I believe it is time to end the war on drugs as it has not been effective. Prohibition didn't work and neither has the war on drugs.

[03Lightningrocks]

The war on drugs has resulted in one of the single most expensive, powerful and at the same time corrupt government agencies in the world. The DEA.

[Jaguar]

I dislike the term "war on drugs" because it is actually the "war on US citizens who may be associated with drugs."

[texanjoker]

3rd hand info from a person that wasnt there.

Just as is the case every time a Sheriff or public information officer holds a press conference and states what happened during an event at which they were not present.

I also doubt they were hitting a house for personal use. Im sure we will here more as the documents get released.

Perhaps that was not their intent, but a single plant is hardly a grow house. More importantly, the age old claim that no-knock entry is necessary to prevent destruction of evidence is once again proven false. A plant and seedlings weren't going to be flushed down the toilet in the short time it would have taken to announce who and why they were there. Waking someone from a deep sleep by kicking open a door is an excellent way to get a LEO or innocent homeowner killed.

As much as it pains me to admit this, the war on drugs has been an absolute failure. I'm not in favor of legalizing any, much less all, drugs, but 50 years of doing the same thing is proof enough that it isn't working. Don't ask me for a solution, I don't have one, but that's not justification to continue efforts that everyone admits don't work. Not only are current laws/policies/procedures ineffective, they are far too costly in terms of money and lives.

Chas.

It is alleged by a person that wasnt there that there was a single plant and no knock warrant. We don't know if that was even the basis for the warrant. having participated in both no knock and knock warrant services, there are times where one or the other is appropriate. i don't know any facts to say which would have been appropriate in this case. warrant service and making is a dangerous activity, but a necessary one. working k9s i did this a lot. Criminals often know the people making entry are Leos and shoot them on purpose as could be the case here. We don't know. I support the death penalty for cop killers.

The war on drugs is a joke. unfortunately Americans want their dope. We couldn't stop prohibition and won't stop drugs. putting people in jail for a joint is wrong, yet that happens daily in Texas. until we either legalize or really close our borders this will be a thorn in our nations history.

[JP171]

3rd hand info from a person that wasnt there.

Just as is the case every time a Sheriff or public information officer holds a press conference and states what happened during an event at which they were not present.

I also doubt they were hitting a house for personal use. Im sure we will here more as the documents get released.

Perhaps that was not their intent, but a single plant is hardly a grow house. More importantly, the age old claim that no-knock entry is necessary to prevent destruction of evidence is once again proven false. A plant and seedlings weren't going to be flushed down the toilet in the short time it would have taken to announce who and why they were there. Waking someone from a deep sleep by kicking open a door is an excellent way to get a LEO or innocent homeowner killed.

As much as it pains me to admit this, the war on drugs has been an absolute failure. I'm not in favor of legalizing any, much less all, drugs, but 50 years of doing the same thing is proof enough that it isn't working. Don't ask me for a solution, I don't have one, but that's not justification to continue efforts that everyone admits don't work. Not only are current laws/policies/procedures ineffective, they are far too costly in terms of money and lives.

Chas.

It is alleged by a person that wasnt there that there was a single plant and no knock warrant. We don't know if that was even the basis for the warrant. having participated in both no knock and knock warrant services, there are times where one or the other is appropriate. i don't know any facts to say which would have been appropriate in this case. warrant service and making is a dangerous activity, but a necessary one. working k9s i did this a lot. Criminals often know the people making entry are Leos and shoot them on purpose as could be the case here. We don't know. I support the death penalty for cop killers.

The war on drugs is a joke. unfortunately Americans want their dope. We couldn't stop prohibition and won't stop drugs. putting people in jail for a joint is wrong, yet that happens daily in Texas. until we either legalize or really close our borders this will be a thorn in our nations history.

cops are no more important than anyone else, so support the death penalty for all murderers or none, not just because it was a cop. If there is a no knock warrant at my home there will likely be cops hurt or worse sorry dood but no knocks gotta stop if you want to stay alive or just make it police state and let god sort em out when its all done. also with the number of times I keep seeing that these no knock (death) warrants are at the wrong home, nope not needed EVER!

[Charles L. Cotton]

3rd hand info from a person that wasnt there.

Just as is the case every time a Sheriff or public information officer holds a press conference and states what happened during an event at which they were not present.

I also doubt they were hitting a house for personal use. Im sure we will here more as the documents get released.

Perhaps that was not their intent, but a single plant is hardly a grow house. More importantly, the age old claim that no-knock entry is necessary to prevent destruction of evidence is once again proven false. A plant and seedlings weren't going to be flushed down the toilet in the short time it would have taken to announce who and why they were there. Waking someone from a deep sleep by kicking open a door is an excellent way to get a LEO or innocent homeowner killed.

As much as it pains me to admit this, the war on drugs has been an absolute failure. I'm not in favor of legalizing any, much less all, drugs, but 50 years of doing the same thing is proof enough that it isn't working. Don't ask me for a solution, I don't have one, but that's not justification to continue efforts that everyone admits don't work. Not only are current laws/policies/procedures ineffective, they are far too costly in terms of money and lives.

Chas.

It is alleged by a person that wasn't there that there was a single plant and no knock warrant.

Now I'm not sure if I understood your first comment. I believe you are talking about the defendant's attorney speaking on behalf of his client. Is that correct? If so, his information about what his client thought and why he shot the deputy serving a no-knock warrant is no more inaccurate than a Sheriff, PD Chief or information officer making public statements about what happened at an event at which they were not present. Both the attorney and the LEO are basing their statements on what they were told.

We don't know if that was even the basis for the warrant. having participated in both no knock and knock warrant services, there are times where one or the other is appropriate.

There was a time long ago when I supported no-knock warrants but experience has shown they are both unnecessary and too costly in lives, constitutional rights, and money. In my view, no-knock warrants are almost never justified. Only when there was a risk of mass casualties by the triggering of a bomb or chemical weapon would I support no-knock entries.

I support the death penalty for cop killers.

I support the death penalty for any murderer, not merely those who kill COPs. The lives of my wife and sons are no less valuable than yours and no less worthy of protection than yours. My life is no less valuable now than when I wore a badge.

Chas.

[Oldgringo]

Well stated Mr. Cotton.

Let's be perfectly clear, my drug of choice has a screw on top.