Two former CIA employees whose Kansas home was fruitlessly searched for marijuana during a two-state drug sweep claim they were illegally targeted, possibly because they had bought indoor growing supplies to raise vegetables.

 

Adlynn and Robert Harte sued this week to get more information about why sheriff's deputies searched their home in the upscale Kanas City suburb of Leawood last April 20 as part of Operation Constant Gardener — a sweep conducted by agencies in Kansas and Missouri that netted marijuana plants, processed marijuana, guns, growing paraphernalia and cash from several other locations.

 

The date of April 20 long has been used by marijuana enthusiasts to celebrate the illegal drug and more recently by law enforcement for raids and crackdowns. But the Hartes' attorney, Cheryl Pilate, said she suspects the couple's 1,825-square-foot split level was targeted because they had bought hydroponic equipment to grow a small number of tomatoes and squash plants in their basement.

 

"With little or no other evidence of any illegal activity, law enforcement officers make the assumption that shoppers at the store are potential marijuana growers, even though the stores are most commonly frequented by backyard gardeners who grow organically or start seedlings indoors," the couple's lawsuit says.

 

The couple filed the suit this week under the Kansas Open Records Act after Johnson County and Leawood denied their initial records requests, with Leawood saying it had no relevant records. The Hartes say the public has an interest in knowing whether the sheriff's department's participation in the raids was "based on a well-founded belief of marijuana use and cultivation at the targeted addresses, or whether the raids primarily served a publicity purpose."

 

The suit filed in Johnson County District Court said the couple and their two children — a 7-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son — were "shocked and frightened" when deputies armed with assault rifles and wearing bullet proof vests pounded on the door of their home around 7:30 a.m. last April 20.

 

Read the rest, here.

Sheesh. It's always something, but why is this just now coming out?

Details probably didn't emerge until the lawsuit came up.

 

Many people who get raided by law enforcement breaking down doors, wearing armor and pointing assault rifles at them, end up suffering PTSD. Dispensary owners who have been raided, often break down when recalling the event. These are adults. Imagine what happens to small children when this shit goes on. Probably scars them for a very long time.

Oh, it's jacked up for sure. I've been in a house that was raided when I was a kid. Not a fun experience. 

I was in one where I immediately threw myself on my friend's dog and kept it from moving. I was not going to give them any chance to shoot my buddy's dog. I got screamed at for making a sudden move and told how dumb I was for putting my life in danger.

 

They're dumb for not using the doorbell. Also, no arrests were made and zero drugs were found.

The one I was in, they were after someone. They could have easily rang the doorbell and covered the exits, but nope, doors kicked in (unlocked btw) and windows broken.

Double ditto. They were after a roommate of my friend who had moved out two weeks before. Then they wanted my friend's help in tracking him down, after threatening us all with weapons and violence.

It's pretty ridiculous.  They were after a cousin of mine for something drug related, and it was my grandmother's house.  Absolutely unnecessary use of force.  I still believe they just wanted to do it. We lived in a small town, and I'm sure they didn't get the opportunity often.

Absolutely. They love their toys and will use any excuse to be able to use them. The same goes for mall cops. The ones I worked with, spent ridiculous amounts of money on handcuffs and other stuff to spiffy up their mall cop attire. It's a sickness. I truly believe that.