EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: SWAT Raids Home Investigating Threats Made To EPD Officers & Families
By: David Shepherd & Kayla Moody
Updated: June 22, 2012
EVANSVILLE - Specific, on-line threats against Evansville Police officers and their families is prompting a major investigation in to the person behind these cyber threats.
The SWAT team, along with officers with the Evansville Police served a search warrant at a home on the 600 block of Powell Avenue.
As the team approached, guns drawn, you could hear them yell, "police," smashing a window and setting off two flash bangs as they entered the home.
Police spokesman, Jason Cullum says, "We wanted to see if there was evidence in the home of who may have made those threats."
Eyewitness News learned about the posts after reporter kayla moody became aware of them. Officers say they had to take extra precautions because of the severity of the threats.
"Them showing up at officers' houses and doing bodily harm. Some of them talked about killing our wives and our children."
But the threats didn't stop there. An anonymous poster on topix-dot-com, known only by his screen name US Army posted "Cops beware! I'm proud of my country but I hate police of any kind. I have explosives :) made in America. Evansville will feel my pain."
"The threats that were made were specific, talked about having explosives," explains Cullum. "During the investigation we uncovered some more information that led us to believe someone in the home may be armed."
Two people were taken out of the home and questioned. Police also took items in to evidence to be processed. No one has been arrested and no charges have been filed yet. But police are continuing the investigation.
"We will take steps to address the issue and if crimes are being committed, as far as making the threats, we're going to address that and if you have the means to carry out those threats and we find those, additional charges will come with that as well," says Cullum.
While Thursday's raid may not have netted an arrest yet, the investigation is far from over. It's an investigation that hits close to home for many of these brave officers.
"They're making threats and we're going to address that. We owe that to our families, to our children and to the community. We're not going to let these types of people take over and have us scared in our own homes."
