HOUSTON (AP) – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is revising its policy on the use of no-knock raids following a drug raid on a home that turned into a deadly shootout in which two residents were killed and five undercover officers injured.
A sheriff’s spokesman, Jason Spencer, told the Houston Chronicle on Friday that any no-knock raid must receive written authorization from top sheriff’s leaders.
Spencer says the policy revision likely won’t translate to a change in practices because the office rarely uses unannounced searches – just two in the last two years.
Houston police announced Monday that they will only use no-knock raids in rare, special circumstances.
Authorities say a Houston police officer lied on an affidavit to justify a Jan. 28 raid in which the residents were killed and officers hurt in a gunbattle.
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