POLICE 'MISTAKE' REPRESENTS TERRORISM

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

In my view, Estelle Newcomb is a victim of terrorism.

Having her door broken down by six or eight deputies of Middlesex's sheriff
surely traumatized this lady and her elderly aunt much more than the threat
of anthrax.

The lack of public outrage when mistakes such as raiding the wrong home are
made is dismaying. Houses are homes and never should be broken into by
police except in hostage situations, and then only after negotiations have
failed.

Police could and should make the arrest on the street. A search warrant
signed by a judge could then be obtained to inspect the home of the suspect
for evidence. Raiding in the middle of the night is simply not justified or
necessary.

In this instance, people were scared out of their wits. In other examples
around America, innocents have been killed by raiding police. The sheriff's
statement - "The percentage of what we are doing that's good is a lot
higher than the mistakes" - is probably not shared by the citizens of
Middlesex who must wonder if they will be the next victim of a "mistake."
Raiding private homes by police should be stopped in America.

Robert D. Spangler

Richmond