Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

January 10, 2013

Auburn, Washington resident Dustin Theoharis was asleep in his bed on February 11, 2012 when two armed strangers entered his room and started to give him orders. Understandably startled, Theoharis reached for a flashlight. This prompted the two intruders to open fire. Theoharis ? who was still in bed -- was shot sixteen times, but survived.

The assailants who shot Theoharis were Detective Aaron Thompson of the King County Sheriff?s Office and Corrections Officer Kris Rongen. They had arrested Theoharis?s roommate, Nicholas Harrison, an ex-convict who had failed to report for community supervision. The officers were searching his bedroom to find if Theoharis had a gun, which would have allowed them to charge Harrison with a parole violation. They had no warrant or probable cause, and no gun was found. Since Harrison was already in custody at the time of the incident, there was no need to conduct a ?safety sweep? of the residence.

By any reasonable definition, Detective Thompson and Officer Rongen committed the crime of attempted homicide. The King County Prosecutor decline to file criminal charges, insisting that the shooting was justified because of a ?perceived risk? to officer safety.

All police are taught to perceive all citizens as potential risks. Does this mean they can shoot any of us at any time?

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.