Leo Lech of Greenwood Village, Colorado had his home invaded by a gunman, but it was the police response that traumatized Lech, his son, and his 9-year-old grandson.
In one of the most extreme examples of why militarization of police departments and of cops overreacting, a house in the Denver suburb was blown to pieces after a SWAT team (yes, a SWAT team) was dispatched to try to find an alleged shoplifter - and it wasn’t even the alleged shoplifter’s home.
The SWAT team and police were trying to capture 33-year-old Robert Jonathan Seacat, who was accused of shoplifting and had allegedly barged into a random home, which belonged to Lech on Wednesday. He was armed and opened fire on the police.
The 9-year-old boy was inside and fortunately he wasn’t hurt, but his bedroom now has holes instead of walls and windows. The house is almost down to its studs. Lech described it as looking like Osama bin Laden’s compound.
Granted, the alleged shoplifter had stolen a car, had narcotics on his person and had fired at police from the garage, but police responded with over 100 officers, including the SWAT team.
Not only did police use guns, they used chemical agents, flash-bang grenades and a breaching ram.
Lech had bought the home for his son and grandson. He estimated that his home incurred about $250,000 in damages.
“There are holes just like this one all through the back of the house too,” Lech said. “They methodically fired explosives into every room in this house in order to extract one person. Granted, he had a handgun, but against 100 officers? You know, the proper thing to do would be to evacuate these homes around here, ensure the safety of the homeowners around here, fire some tear gas through the windows. If that didn’t work, you have 50 SWAT officers with body armor break down the door.”
“This is an abomination,” he said. “This is an atrocity. To use this kind of force against one gunman.”
Source: The Denver Channel
Lech estimates that if it had been done his way, the damage would probably have been around $10,000. Instead, he may have to tear it down and his son and family are homeless. Lech’s son does not have rental insurance, and the city says it’s not responsible.
Fox 31 contacted the city and the city manager’s assistant said that they have contacted the city’s insurance company.
Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/v5FogX9qKMY
Featured image via Fox 31 video screen capture
It’s funny they are never “responsible”- just sayin’
Forward the bill to the city.
Whats next for these SWAT Teams? Parking ticket enforcement? Seems like that is where it is going
Uhhh…. Right after 9-11 I visited St. Edwards state park in Washington. The ranger was patrolling the parking lot, giving out tickets to people who didn’t pay.
The guy had on a very large “Smokey the Bear” hat and two HUGE hand cannons strapped to his waste. He looked like John Wayne. The guns stuck out so far he had to turn sideways to walk between the cars.
The ranger said he wore the guns to “make people feel safe!” and “please stop laughing.”
You broke it, you bought it. The city should make this right. If not, the taxpayers should “fire” every elected official in town along with the police chief and the SWAT commander.
He shot at the cops. He was a danger to himself and the community. It may have been shoplifting “this time” but he had a long violent criminal history.
I enjoy this sight, but it to often sensationalizes stories and I’ve seen other inaccuracies or downright half truths.
“he” was a person who didn’t even live there. Of course the city needs to replace what they destroyed. The actual homeowner did NOT commit a crime here.
I’d love to hear your response had it been your home.
I was responding to the idea that they “blew up” the house, whether it was right or wrong, not whether the city should pay for it. I have insurance.
so the cops blow up your house, you’ve done nothing wrong. but you’re okay with your insurance paying for it? and your premiums going up? or your insurance dropping you afterwards? you are quite the American civil supporter , aren’t you?
You have insurance. Now about the empathy…
Jon, I have empathy. Initially, the police and city said they were considering payment for the damage. If they have changed their minds, that would be a shame. Like I said earlier, my comments were about the “why” they had to do the damage to the house they did. Would I want to have the damage done to my house,obviously not, Would I want to pay for the damage, no. Do I have insurance , yes, do I want higher premiums no. But those were not the issues I was addressing in my initial comment. Sorry that you and others did not read my other comments, yes, but critical thinking is not a requirement of free speech.
The city should never consider paying for a house destroyed by their cops, they should just do it. They should pay for this family a place to stay until their home is repaired, they should get their insurance adjuster out their, pronto, they should bend over backwards to make sure this family is taken care of. What if the family had been killed during all this? Just for a shoplifter? Ridiculous!
did they sensationalize the part about the kid still being in the house?—-no hostage negotiations? with that response force he certainly wasn’t going anywhere
? How are they not responsible?
Okay, i know some are gonna get on me for this, but why is it when i see something like this and the guy is arrested, i just know hes gonna be white? As a white guy, when i hear someone who is unarmed is shot by police, i hope its not a black person, but it usually is. And when i hear stories like this when you would expect the person to be killed, especially after shooting at the police, I hpoe its not a white guy, but it usually is.
The invader is responsible. Although the city should repair it and then make the crook repay them.
The police did not have to handle it the way that they did. They had other, less violent, less destructove and less life-threatening ways to handle the situation. Saying that the destruction of Mr. Lech’s house was the invader’s responsibility is like saying if you kill someone in a car accident, it is the DPW’s fault for putting a street where the accident happened.
The creep was armed and there was a child involved. NOtice I said the city should pay first and be compensated by the criminal. Yes it is his fault.. he stole, grabbed a gun and INVADED A HOME. THE CRIMINAL CAUSED ALL OF THIS> If it were not for him invading the police would not have had to haul his sorry butt out. If he had left when told to do so then it would not have happened. Scum should pay for their actions.
Renters insurance? Since when does renters insurance cover damage to the physical structure? The owner of the house supplies insurance on the house and it ain’t called renters insurance and it isn’t the responsibility of those that are doing the renting. YOu people are dumber than a box of bricks.
It’s owned by the man in the video who had built it for and was renting it to his son and grandson.
You’re right, it wouldn’t cover damage to the home. They should have mentioned it would cover the tenants’ damaged belongings and temporary living arrangements.
The man needs a good lawyer. Not responsible? HA! They say that for the benefit of the idiots who will believe it. and not press the matter further. He should not only recover the actual damages, but, that number should be multiplied by 3 for the emotional distress. Cops all over the nation are getting out of hand.
The city’s not responsible? For an act committed by members of their police force! Well, then, who is, pray tell?
even if he had insurance they would probably try to get out of paying for it, they’re almost as crooked as the police.
Actually, I can’t imagine any insurance company lying down for this, and why should they? How could any reasonable insurance cover damage from a paramilitary attack? Having a rider that covered it would cost more than the house is worth. This isn’t a case of insurance not paying up; this is a case of insanity by armed officials.
I would think the city should pay for this. Even though everyone is safe, this is another example of overreaction from an out of control police department.
I woke up one Sunday to a paramilitary style invasion of a small house down the street. Supposedly a man inside was reported to have a gun. One man! Many military style vehicles, many police, and a cop at the intersection lobbing one grenade after another at the house all morning. I don’t think he could even see the house where he was laying down on the street! There was a party that night and a lot of young people rounded up. It did not feel safe to be outside, I looked from behind my van but decided to go back in. This place should not be a war zone!
The city is absolutely responsible.
One of these days those power/control mad paramilitary law enforcement megalomaniac will pick the wrong place and wrong person, then watch as they scream about being the victims of crazed citizens. Don’t these people have even the smallest amount of common sense, is their grasp on reality that slight that they willfully act like the village idiot and for all the world to see ????? How would you like one of these unstable creatures as your next door neighbor ?