General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNo Weed, Just Weeds. A SWAT Raid in Texas.
A site search didn't show this had been posted:
http://intothegardenofeden.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=140&Itemid=382
No Weed, Just Weeds
City of Arlington SWAT Raid on Peaceful Organic Farmers is a Big Budget Bust
Click here for updates and progress in this matter
Arlington, TX August 5, 2013
At around seven thirty last Friday morning, inhabitants of The Garden of Eden, a small Intentional Community based on Sustainability, were awakened by a SWAT raid conducted by the City of Arlington for suspicion of being a full fledged marijuana growth and trafficking operation. Ultimately only a single arrest was made based on unrelated outstanding traffic violations, a handful of citations were given for city code violations, and zero drug related violations were found.
The entire operation lasted about 10 hours and involved many dozens of city officials, SWAT team, police officers and code compliance employees, and numerous official vehicles including dozens of police cars and several specialized vehicular equipment that was involved in the abatement operation. Witnesses say that there were helicopters and unmanned flying drones circling the property in the days prior to the raid that are presumed to have been a part of the intelligence gathering. The combined expenses for the raid itself and the collection of information leading up to the fruitless raid are estimated in the tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
All 8 adults present in the house were initially handcuffed at the gunpoint of heavily armed SWAT officers, including the mother of a 22 month old and a two week old baby who was separated from her children during the raid. The police enforced activity on the day of the raid included mowing the grass, the forcible destruction of both wild and cultivated plants like blackberries, lambs quarters and okra, and the removal of other varied materials from around the premises such as pallets, tires and cardboard that the Community members say they had collected for use in sustainability projects. No marijuana or other drugs were found on site and the inhabitants of the premises were all unarmed.
After several hours and many requests from the community members, the City Police Officers finally produced two warrants. The first was a Search Warrant for a suspected marijuana growth and distribution operation purportedly being concealed on the premises. There was also an Inspection & Abatement Warrant for code compliance violations such as tall grass and storage in the yard, an issue that the City of Arlington and The Garden of Eden have been disputing since February of this year. The marijuana warrant was issued based on an unsubstantiated claim by an Arlington City Police Officer of possession of marijuana by one of the community members for which there is no police record. Garden of Eden community members also say they have a series of documents showing that their dispute with the City of Arlington over the code compliance violations had already been addressed and settled.
(That's the first 4 paragraphs, more at link.)
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]"We have been targeted by the system because we are showing people how to live without it."
I hope they sue the city and get enough money to buy more land for their community... in a much friendlier place!
AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,846 posts)About the Earth heating up:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023459674
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Arlington may need them, but will they need Arlington?
They might as well go someplace where they're given a little appreciation, and not persecuted until they're needed, you know what I mean?
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)Waiting For Everyman
(9,385 posts)Those people were way ahead of them. I hope they make lots of money off of the court case. They deserve to, and clearly it would be put to good use.
Thanks for sharing this.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)I am tired of peaceful people minding their own business being treated like hardened criminals by cops and SWAT teams. I am having a hard time realizing our country has come to this. It is pure abuse and harassment on the part of the police. It has to be costing the taxpayers a fortune for all this nonsense.
tblue37
(64,982 posts)"The combined expenses for the raid itself and the collection of information leading up to the fruitless raid are estimated in the tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars <emphasis added>."
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)TexasTowelie
(111,314 posts)Here is another version of the story in the Texas Group.
Arlington SWAT Team Raids Commune Looking for Weed, Finds Only Hippies and Tall Grass
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107811161
AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,846 posts)Hope the Community at Garden of Eden is blessed with a little more help and less trouble.
TexasTowelie
(111,314 posts)but if you check out the Texas Group it's apparent that I'm a troll!
AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,846 posts)And I put in the link to the article, not the headline I posted or you posted. And you got a different link. I got the information in an email, not reading news links. Anyhow hope all works out well for the folks.
ADW
RandiFan1290
(6,206 posts)Thank you for posting it here. I wouldn't read the Texas group if you paid me by the letter.
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)The Garden of Eden is a small intentional community in southwest Arlington dedicated to Freedom, Sustainability and Responsibility. Since 2009 they have been providing food, shelter and sustainability education classes and workshops to the public for free. Their 3.5 acre land contains chickens, bees, composting stations, a large vegetable garden and many wildcrafted trees and plants that are used for foods, medicines, and household and beauty products. Their vision is to be a fully self-sustaining center for education on sustainable living. To learn more about the Garden of Eden, or be in support, visit intothegardenfeden.com or contact them at gardenofedenvortex@gmail.com.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)You know how that scares the authorities.
nilram
(2,879 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Try to be a regular Merican while you're here.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Sumbich!
B Calm
(28,762 posts)Berlum
(7,044 posts)I'd bet a sack of doughnuts the fascist assclowns behind this "raid" are all RepuliWankers who think of themselves as 'christians.'
Sivafae
(480 posts)put the women in funny clothes that are modest. Then they would totally be left alone.
TransitJohn
(6,932 posts)Attempts at Resolution:
Garden of Eden representative Shellie Smith has since sent more than 20 letters of correspondence in hopes of resolving the matter lawfully and peacefully. Lawful notifications on record have been sent certified mail to Curtis Jones, the code compliance officer who made the initial complaint, Code Compliance employees Mike Bass, Neal Lucas, Lisa Duncan, City Manager Trey Yelverton, Mayor Robert Cluck and Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson. Not a single one of these individuals replied or responded to Smith with a phone call or written response of any kind.
In her lawful notification on record, Smith has requested to be shown what law grants the city government jurisdiction over her and her land, as jurisdiction must first be established. She very simply communicated in a lawful on reccord corrispondance "Show me the law and I will be happy to honor it" As a free woman inhabiting the land, she is entitled to inalienable rights, granted by her creator, as all men and women are. Unless she has made a contract by a signed written agreement with another party, be it a man, a company or a government agency, or unless she has caused damage to a person or their property, no one shall have power over her.
In her lawful notifications on record to the County Sheriff, Dee Anderson, Smith declared that her safety and property were being threatened unlawfully by the City and individuals in their official and individual capacity and that her family was in danger. She requested that the Sheriff intervene on her behalf to see that due process of law was followed. However the Sheriff did not respond nor did anyone from the Sheriff's office.
http://intothegardenofeden.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=381