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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 Kansas 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.
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."
"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.
Regardless, no prbable cause (given the extent of information in the article) beyond the purchase of hydroponic equipment, exists for the conduct of criminal activity. No judge worthy of the office should have signed off on the warrant.
This will become more and more commonplace as we slide further and further into tyranny.
maybe they're wrong.claim they were illegally targeted, possibly because they had bought indoor growing supplies to raise vegetables.
"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.
"little or no?" Could that mean there is SOME other evidence?
"backyard gardeners?" People don't grow hydroponic vegetables in the back yard. They grow them indoors.
Now honestly...if you don't own your own body?
How on earth can you imagine that you live in "the land of the free"?
Regardless, no prbable cause (given the extent of information in the article) beyond the purchase of hydroponic equipment, exists for the conduct of criminal activity. No judge worthy of the office should have signed off on the warrant.
I don't think they need to get warrants anymore.
