Dogs Killed In Raid On Mayor's Home

Maryland Home Was Apparently Target Of Pot Smuggling Scheme; Police Conduct Questioned

(CBS/ AP)  Mayor Cheye Calvo got home from work, saw a package addressed to his wife on the front porch, and brought it inside, putting it on a table.

Suddenly, police with guns drawn kicked in the door and stormed in, shooting to death the couple's two dogs and seizing the unopened package.

In it were 32 pounds of marijuana. But the drugs evidently didn't belong to the couple.

Police say the couple appeared to be innocent victims of a scheme by two men to smuggle millions of dollars worth of marijuana by having it delivered to about a half-dozen unsuspecting recipients.

The two men under arrest include a FedEx deliveryman; investigators said the deliveryman would drop off a package outside a home, and the other man would come by a short time later and pick it up.

Now, federal authorities say they're looking into how local law enforcement handled the July 29 raid. FBI Agent Rich Wolf said late Thursday that the bureau had opened a civil rights investigation into the case.

A furious Calvo said earlier Thursday that he and his wife, Trinity Tomsic, had asked the government to investigate.

"Trinity was an innocent victim and random victim," Calvo told reporters outside his two-story, red-brick house in this middle-class Washington suburb of about 3,000 people. "We were harmed by the very people who took an oath to protect us."

"It was a horrible, horrible incident," Calvo told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Friday, "but I think it's also the kind of thing that happens, and I don't think we would have realized that until it happened to us."

"What's really troubling," Calvo continued, "is they didn't have a proper warrant to do what they did. They actually didn't give us a warrant at all until 71 hours after it happened. And that's really what's disturbing -- despite all the mistakes that were made, they're holding to their guns, saying they did nothing wrong.

"This happened to us. We can't get our dogs back, and we know that. But the reason we asked for federal authorities to investigate this is because this is a systemic problem, and we want to make sure that, while it happened to us and that's a tragedy, we don't want it to happen to anyone else."

Calvo insisted the couple's two black Labradors were gentle creatures and said police apparently killed them "for sport," gunning down one of them as it was running away.

"Our dogs were our children," said the 37-year-old Calvo. "They were the reason we bought this house because it had a big yard for them to run in."

The mayor, who was changing his clothes when police burst in, also complained that he was handcuffed in his boxer shorts for about two hours along with his mother-in-law, and said the officers didn't believe him when he told them he was the mayor. No charges were brought against Calvo or his wife, who came home in the middle of the raid.

Prince George's County Police Chief Melvin High said Wednesday that Calvo and his family were "most likely ... innocent victims," but he would not rule out their involvement, and he defended the way the raid was conducted. He and other officials did not apologize for killing the dogs, saying the officers felt threatened.

The FBI will monitor how effective, fair and professional the law enforcement agency's conduct was during the incident, Wolf said. A police spokesman declined comment Thursday on the FBI investigation.

Police announced Wednesday they had arrested two men suspected in a plot to smuggle 417 pounds of marijuana, and seized a total of $3.6 million in pot. Investigators said the package that arrived on Calvo's porch had been sent from Los Angeles via FedEx, and they had been tracking it ever since it drew the attention of a drug-sniffing dog in Arizona.

Police intercepted it in Maryland, and an undercover detective posing as a deliveryman took it to the Calvo home.

Calvo's defenders - including the Berwyn Heights police chief, who said his department should have been alerted ahead of time - said police had no right to enter the home without knocking.

But officials insisted they acted within the law, saying the operation was compromised when Calvo's mother-in-law saw officers approaching the house and screamed. That could have given someone time to grab a gun or destroy evidence, authorities said.

Neighbors in Berwyn Heights, which Calvo described as "Mayberry inside the Capital Beltway," have rallied around the couple. On Sunday night, supporters gathered on a ballfield to pay tribute to the family and the dogs. A banner on the wooden fence around Calvo's yard read, "Cheye and Trinity, We support you, Friends and Citizens of Berwyn Heights." Around it were dozens of handwritten messages from supporters.

In addition to being the part-time mayor, Calvo works at a nonprofit foundation that runs boarding schools. His wife is a state finance officer.

"When all of this happened I was flabbergasted," said next-door neighbor Edward Alexander. "I was completely stunned because those dogs didn't hurt anybody. They barely bark."

The case is the latest embarrassment for Prince George's County officials. A former police officer was sentenced in May to 45 years in prison for shooting two furniture deliverymen at his home last year, one of them fatally. He claimed that they attacked him. In June, a suspect jailed in the death of a police officer was found strangled in his cell.

Calvo said he was astonished that police have not only failed to apologize, but declined to clear the couple's names.

His wife spoke through tears as she described an encounter with a girl who used to see the couple walking their dogs.

"She gave me a big hug and she said, `If the police shot your dogs dead and did this to you, how can I trust them?'" Tomsic said. "I don't want people to feel like that. I just want them to be proud of our police and proud to live in Prince George's County."

[extremophil]

Yee cats! I''ve heard some strange stories about Marland before but this one tops ''em all.

[xlib]

No mention of party affiliation. Typical.

[zucchiniman]

Spineless Egomaniacs do not apologize for their incompetence.

[genesauto]

I''ve got 3 dogs that I also consider "my children". They are smart, faithful, and above all, non-aggressive. If ANYONE, including police, ever killed or tried to kill one of them, they would have to kill me to keep me from killing them. My heart hurts for this couple as if it had happened to me. Police officers that would shoot a dog that is trying to avoid them should be tried and convicted of the felony of cruelty to animals, stripped of their badges, and forever be listed as animal abusers just like *** offenders are categorized. Make them keep a sign on their front door that lets the world know what they are....Low down, cruel, pieces of SH_T!!

Bursting into someone''s house, bad enough, but
shooting a LAB?!! For cryin out loud. Where do these
EMBICLES come from! I''m relieved that they didn''t
have a big aquarium, they would have shot all the
fish in case there were "attack pirahna''s" in there.
My condolences , these pets really are children to
thousands of families.

[honestabe8]

All this over weed? What a waste of law enforcement resources. As for the cops, pee on them from a significant height

sorry about the spelling for "EMBICILE". also i
woudn''t be surprised if they begin putting little
decals of dogs and other pets on their patrol cars
to indicate number of "kills". these "MASTERS OF
THE LAW" will surely be "rewarded" ..

[omega39-2009]

Bush''s father called them jack booted thugs, he was right....

[kennedy7955]

Outragous...our country is so screwed up.

[stevex47]

Shoot a police dog and it''s murder.

All involved need to experience jail time. The officers have proven to be reckless with their firearms and should never be allowed to carry again.
THEY all need to be drug tested and mentally evaluated.

[mollydtt]

If "they acted within the law" then I am very, very afraid. This could happen to anyone, folks. It could be your house, your family that gets destroyed by these bullies that have no brains. Then it will be too late.(And you get no apology and your name isn''t cleared) Sheesh! Who knew!

[hotwitch]

I really am astonished we have these para-military style raids over, in this case, a bag of pot. And then the after-the-fact warrant? Like is this some kind of totalitarian regime? Oh,.. it''s just Maryland....

[rwm2_2000]

Whether it''s a black womans child or a dog or two, NO EXCESSIVE FORCE FROM OUR POLICE SHOULD BE TOLERATED UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT WE ARE NOW A POLICE STATE. BOTH OF THESE CASES NEED COMPLETE INVESTIGATION BY UNBIAS PEOPLE...Just as they broke into the mayor''s home and killed his lab dogs, they also do plenty of other things they shouldn''t do...They taser us citizens to death and we continue to allow it...Are we just going to continue to? We need politicians in office who will take our freedoms seriously or we will soon lose it. Don''t be misled to vote for one of the Presidential candidates to avoid having the other. There are plenty of libertian candidates and Constitution party candidates. We don''t have to accept either Democrat or Republican. And if he doesn''t win we at least know we aren''t responsible for putting in an unfit President. Check out Chuck Baldwin if U want a preacher or Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party. Both are better than Democrat or Republicans. Also I hope folks will continue to put pressure on the BUMS that killed these dogs and kids.Just because they have a badge shouldn''t give them the right to treat us as citizens in such a way!

[jetlizhan]

genesauto:

i agree with you 100% - i''d use my 9mm in a heartbeat if anyone tried to hurt/kill my 2 precious dogs. they are my heartbeat - but only us dog lovers understand this. i feel sorry for anyone that has never been close to and loved a dog. their loss.

[cbsblogger]

The only way that overzealous law enforcement behavior is stopped is for those officers involved to be both fired and most importantly...lose their pensions. Suing the department only costs taxpayers. Those involved must be held personally accountable.

These are storm troopers. They certainly aren''t law enforcement officers whose job is to protect and defend the public.

(whoops) in my initial entry the phrase "might have"
should replace "would''ve" (regarding fish)

[rwm2_2000]

The law officers in this case should be treated as a citizen who shoots a police dog...i personally would like to see them locked up or maybe even given a life sentence of 7 years. Maybe next time a law officer thinks he could just shoot a dog w/o reprecussions he''d think twice.

[duluntap]

This situation may seem sad; however, THE POLICE WERE DOING THEIR JOBS!!!! The anger should be directed toward the person who sent the marijuana to them in the first place. What do they expect the police to do? If the police knock on the door and ask nicely to come in, all the evidence could be destroyed quickly. Also, the police do not like shooting dogs; however, if the dogs create danger for the police, there is no other option. THEY ARE JUST ANIMALS PEOPLE, NOT HUMANS. It is rediculous to want to change a necessary police action just because some rich white americans got a little taste of the REAL world goes through on a regular basis!!!!! Use some common sense.

[mollydtt]

If you really feel the police were doing their jobs, then I hope they come to your house. Remember, you are still a criminal and your house and family are destroyed. Ooops.

[observer2020]

"If the police shot your dogs dead and did this to you, how can I trust them?''"
+
The police have not given me any reasons at all to trust them. These police that have no-knock warrants need to do just a little bit (if any at all) homework to see who''s house they are INVADING with GUNS DRAWN and SHOOTING AT PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. How would they like it if one of these boxes was dropped off at their house--would they act the same? Absolutely NOT! If this was a random drop and they KNEW it, they were very wrong barging in the way they did and murdering two gentle creatures. I could see if the box contained automatic weapons or a much worse drug than just weed. Someone needs to do extensive research on the legality of no-knock warrants (actually these should be used only if KNOWN weapons are present). Cops need extensive brush up on the law that the supposedly enforce.

[rwm2_2000]

Well I NEVER knew that it was the job of our police to kill us or our animals!

[n8yvn29]

Welcome to Bush''s America. With the arrogant disregard shown to our Constitution by our ''president'' goes the heavy-handed disregard for citizens'' rights shown by our police. Who ya gonna vote for this time around, (neo)con?

[duluntap]

Are you people suggesting that the police should treat the house of a rich american differently from that of a lower class american? Drug dealers come in all shapes and sizes. Police raids are not pretty, I agree, but they are NECESSARY!!!!

[stn_sage]

The case is the latest embarrassment for Prince George''s County officials. (fm article)

''...Latest embarrassment...''? More like, outrage!

Police units across America are acting illegally like this, but the Prince George''s county police are a GANG, not a police unit---but a GANG! And, the citizens should act accordingly!

[rwm2_2000]

There are 500,000 coffins right here in Madison Ga now just ready for someone...U can see them UR self...Just Google FEMA COFFINS...Maybe once they kill the dogs we''re next!

[endpcnow]

I can almost guarentee that nothing will happen to the officers who obviously overeacted. The taxpayer, that is, you and I, will pay for their misdeeds and their lives and work will go on without repercussion. And they KNOW it. That''s why that act the way they do.

[duluntap]

Why is it that when a story comes out that some dogs were killed everyone is OUTRAGED. However, when a person dies, no one seems to care???

[CBSTV]

Has the United States become a totalitarian nation?

The only good thing about this incident is that it happened to an elected official. Perhaps the subject of civil liberties will receive broader attention.

[jetlizhan]

duluntap & DaVicar2:

"dogs can easily be replaced by one trip to the neighborhood pet store" - please don''t either one of you ever get a dog. what a pity for the animal to go home with a heartless master that thinks they can be replaced by paying money and just getting another. you''re sad and pathetic.

[blackyowe]

I never dreamed anything like this could happen in any city ot town in America. This shakes me to the core. Does no one care about the Constitution anymore. I was crying last night when I read about this. If you are not safe in your own home where are you safe! Its like something from the USSR in the 70s! Never of all state would I think this sort of thing would happen in Maryland.

[duluntap]

jetlizhan
Anyone who would put the life of a dog ahead of the safety of law enforcement is "sad and pathetic."

By the way, I am a dog lover, I have three!!!

[duluntap]

We are not turning into a police state, the police had PROBABLE CAUSE. Someone please blame the idiot who sent the marijuana to their house.

[rwm2_2000]

If these officers were following correct police training then we as citizens need to get their training CORRECTED and FAST. These dogs, IF THEY WERE ATTACKING, were also doing their job and I''d have YET to see any police officer come forward w/any mark on him that looks like a dog attacked him.

[duluntap]

You all need to get some sleep, take some prozac, and stop listening to the "Aliens are everywhere and the government is covering them up!!" radio broadcasts at 2:00 in the morning.

[jetlizhan]

duluntap:

being a dog owner does NOT make you a dog lover. i feel very sorry for your dogs, as they''ll never know unconditional love from you like they give to you. you''re still sad and pathetic.

[omega39-2009]

LEBANON, Tennessee (AP) -- A 61-year-old man was shot to death by police while his wife was handcuffed in another room during a drug raid on the wrong house.

Police admitted their mistake, saying faulty information from a drug informant contributed to the death of John Adams Wednesday night. They intended to raid the home next door.

The two officers, 25-year-old Kyle Shedran and 24-year-old Greg Day, were placed on administrative leave with pay.

[rwm2_2000]

LOL...Sounds about like our law...Kill someone and go on paid vacation!

[omega39-2009]

Nobody who knew him has a bad word to say about Darryl Howell. Honest, compassionate, respectable, friendly, law-biding -- that''s how people describe the 45-year-old gun store owner, who died in a federal raid on his store this week. And he was definitely not the sort of man who would commit suicide. Yet, that''s what the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and local law enforcement officials claim. They say that Howell used his own .45 to take his life during the mid-morning raid -- at the same moment a police officer pumped three slugs into him. News of the fatal shooting shocked and saddened residents of Taft, California -- a small community 37 miles southwest of Bakersfield.

[rwm2_2000]

NO KNOCK WARRANTS MUST BE OUTLAWED IMMEDIATELY!!!!

[duluntap]

jetlizhan
Because I have more compasion for police than for dogs I am sad and pathetic? I am soooo sorry, I must be an evil person. Put me in jail with Michael Vick. You have no backbone.
You know nothing about how much I love and take care of my dogs!!!!

[rwm2_2000]

OUR LAW IS OUT OF CONTROL...OR WE WILL BE UNDER HOUSE ARREST!

[rwm2_2000]

And who said it was JUSTIFIABLE..THE LAW!

[omega39-2009]

Two couples, Marcella Monroe/Tam Davage, and Elizabeth Redetzke/Jor Havens were awakened by %u201Cflash-bang%u201D grenades being hurled into the back yards of their homes located in a densely populated residential neighborhood, which caused immense explosions that shook the windows of surrounding homes. Without knocking, masked and armored SWAT police smashed in the doors of three residences. Police forced the residents from their beds without clothing and placed a black hood over the head of one of the women, while police ransacked their homes for hours.

The police found no evidence of a marijuana growing operation, but, in a blatant attempt to justify this outrageous invasion, arrested and cited the individuals anyway, thereby exposing them to felony criminal charges and the possibility of having their homes forfeited under Oregon drug laws. (See 12/5/02 article in the Register Guard newspaper.) Eventually all charges were dismissed by the State. The raids caused physical and emotional injuries to the individuals, as well as extensive damage to their property.

[rainydayacct]

Who will protect us from the police? Today, it''s them. Tomorrow, it''s us.

We must do more than simply express our outrage on a message board. We must apply heat to the powers that be and make sure that these criminals who are authorized to carry guns are brought to justice. The badge is not a "get out of jail free" card nor is it a license to kill indiscriminately.

The dogs were NOT attacking. They were running AWAY from the officers. These were not Pit Bulls, Dobermans or German Shepherds. Labs might lick you to death, but they are NOT aggressive canines. They are gentle dogs who are often trained to help the disabled.

The real "attack dogs" were the trigger happy cops who would have probably massacred a litter of kittens had they appeared in a basket by the door.

These actions were illegal. A warrant given 3 days AFTER the assault/killing is beyond pathetic. It''s a "cover your butt" maneuver which is too little, too late. This was not protection but destruction/violation. We cannot tolerate these abuses of power. This is not the America I love.

[blackyowe]

DaVicar2, you just like to be a provocative jerk. If a teenager had made a wrong move or someone flipped out and said the wrong thing what makes you think those hyped up idiot cops wouldn''t shoot someone or that a stray bullet meant for the dog would hit the Mother in Law. You are an a_ _hole DaVicar2! I lived next to a drug house for 2 1/2 years in a nice neighborhood and couldn''t get the cops to do anything about that. I won guns and I know how insane it is to shoot inside a building.

[rwm2_2000]

What can be done so this stops!

[nextgenman]

This is what happens when you let Bumpkin Republicans become cops - or anything with power for that fact.

[rwm2_2000]

They kill our dogs and want to take away our guns...Are we willing to let them do that to so we have no defense?

[cbsblogger]

We are not turning into a police state, the police had PROBABLE CAUSE. Someone please blame the idiot who sent the marijuana to their house.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by duluntap at 11:22 AM

===========================================

Yes we will migrate to a militarized police state if we continue to allow it to happen.

These cops had no warrant and no right to bust the door down. They should be fired and lose their pension and be held criminally accountable as would any citizen that shot a dog in its own house. The chief should be put on notice. It could have been just as easily the mayor or his wife that were shot, or one of the officers, because of these aggressive tactics.

The ONLY time that police should be permitted to enter a home as no-knock without a warrant should be in cases of life threatening hostage situations or where it the alleged resident is without a doubt an armed and dangerous felon.

A box of marijuana does not qualify as reason to put citizens and police in jeopardy.

[rwm2_2000]

I agree that the one shipping the drugs was at fault for shipping it but IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LAW AND OUR JUDGES TO INVESTIGATE THINGS BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION THAT MIGHT TAKE LIVES.