(CNN) — A policeman was killed Friday during a day-long siege with a gunman at a house in the town of Napier, in New Zealand’s north island.
The body of Senior Constable Len Snee was recovered from the driveway of the house, where a 51-year-old gunman had been embroiled in a standoff with police since Thursday morning, New Zealand police said in a statement.
Two other police officers and a civilian were wounded in the confrontation, and are in critical condition in a hospital, police said. Authorities did not say what had prompted the incident.
CNN affiliate TVNZ identified the man as Jan Molenaar and said police had arrived at his house Thursday morning in Napier, about 200 miles southeast of Auckland, for a “standard cannabis raid.”
via Police officer killed in New Zealand standoff – CNN.com.
Fortunately, Constable Snee did not die in vain, because after the arrest of Molenaar, all marijuana farming has now ceased to exist in New Zealand.
Does anybody think any good has come from this “standard cannabis raid”? What terrible harm had befallen the town of Napier that justified the death of a policeman and the wounding of two more and a civilian? Is stopping a 51-year-old man from gardening in his home and getting high worth it? Police should never be forced into this situation and citizens should never be forced to defend their home against police.
When you’re over 50 and looking at time what do have to lose? I’ve read many stories on this site that describe the hell that follows an arrest and it makes you think about, “what will I do when they come for me?” At that point I don’t think that you’re thinking about the officer’s family when they’re kicking the door in. It’s not the cop’s fault but it’s their administrations that continue to lobby against ALL forms of medical and decrim initiatives in this country and its way past due that they start taking more of the blame for dead cops and citizens in this failed war. I’m sure the Hoffman family feels the same way.
It’s a sad story to hear but you can only push some people so far and then they push back. The prohibitionists like to push marijuana users around like herds of sheep,well the sheep are getting restless.
Replying to my self:
Does not include LEAP cops. Love you guys and gals.
I have a hard time feeling sorry for the pigs.
World wide they have caused more suffering and death in this war on free thinkers and doers.
They deserve what the get! Armed or not.
Stop busting weed users, or the next dead pig may be you!
Got it Pigs!
Wups, breaking, Molenaar is dead, they have his body. Going back to the site…
Have to say in this case, I have more sympathy with the LEOs. YES, cannabis should be legal to grow and enjoy. But remember that NZ cops are UNARMED and they were UNARMED when they went to his house. A police dog who had to be abandoned in the cop’s van, and has been stuck there since it started, is almost certainly dead, a slow, suffering death. The body of the killed officer lay in the street for a day and a half before they could retrieve it. A horrible situation. That tinyurl has some links to video.
that news from about 5 hours ago.
update on this news. Explosions in the house, police think he may be dead but fear the house may be booby-trapped with explosives. Family friend reports that the shooter was likely using steroids (his photo sure looks like it.) http://tinyurl.com/ont62c