Owner: Standoff house in Greenwood Village is "destroyed"

[smiley]

Source: Denver Post

A man whose Greenwood Village home was destroyed by police in a barricade situation is angry, claiming police used excessive force to get the job done.

"My house has been destroyed by a para-military unit," owner Leo Lech said Friday. "We'll have to basically doze it down to the foundation."

The home, at 4219 S. Alton St., has been condemned, Lech said.

Lech also fears that he'll be left alone to deal with the damage and aftermath.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28260473/owner-standoff-house-greenwood-village-is-destroyed

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I have mixed feelings on this. The suspect did apparently have a gun and he fired on the officers. But whatever happened to talking the suspect out of the house. They used to do that on the tevee all the time ( )

[Warpy]

1. They did all that to catch a fucking SHOPLIFTER?

Even if the moron had a gun and squeezed off a round or two, they should have tried to secure the place and talk him out, NOT BLOW UP THE HOUSE!

I can see a lawsuit coming out of this one. Those cops will have to sell their war toys to cover it.

[smiley]

2. Yep...

and the city will be left picking up the tab once again.

[groundloop]

3. City won't pick up the tab, if anything it will be the owner's insurance company

Per the linked article the house IS insured, but the claim is being reviewed to see if the insurance company can weasel out of paying it because of a clause about 'damage caused by government agencies'. Another source, however, indicated that the insurance company would likely cover it. Let's hope so.

And yes, it certainly appears that the police went way overboard on this.

[yeoman6987]

4. The government should at least have to pay the

Deductible which might be 10 grand.

[jwirr]

8. They probably have one of those "no coverage in a war zone" clauses. That is the way insurance

companies get out of paying some times.

[smiley]

13. I thought I heard a news report...

that the city would review it first before deciding.

I couldn't imagine being in this homeowner's shoes though.

[jwirr]

10. Now we can add that to our list of crimes that are really dangerous.

[n2doc]

15. They'll just raise property taxes to cover the cost

Police NEVER face any real consequences for these actions.

[James48]

5. Shoplifting at WAL-MART.

Always the low road.

[mountain grammy]

6. Unbelievable!

[dballance]

7. For FUCKING SHOPLIFTING?

Are you serious?

[smiley]

14. amazing isn't it?

You would think they would be able to surround that house and eventually force the suspect out rather than blowing up the house first.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. holy shite

[secondvariety]

11. Idiotic.

Even for cops, this is stupid.

[MisterP]

12. same as the boat wrecked during the Tsarnaev hunt