Maryland SWAT Team Raids Home on Hunch, Hits Husband in Face, Handcuffs Couple, and Shoots Family Dog — and Finds No Evidence of a Crime

There is another story of an abusive raid by a SWAT team this week. In January, a SWAT team raid the mobile home of Mike Hasenei, hit him in the face with a shield, knocked him to the ground, handcuffed both him and his wife, and shot their family dog.

The police were looking for someone who broke into two police cruisers and stole penlights, a Police Department baseball cap, citation books – and a high-powered rifle and nearly 150 rounds of ammunition. It is not clear why police leave high-powered rifles and 150 rounds of ammo in cars unattended overnight.

Hasenei, a 38-year-old senior computer analyst for Marriott International, appears innocent but Howard County Police Chief William J. McMahon insists that he “had information” that the home might have the weapons. His forces actually raided three homes that night. He added, however, “Nobody feels good about the fact that a dog was killed.” Hmmm, the problem is that Maryland officers have been repeatedly accused of such abuses including the repeated shooting of family pets. This is precisely what happened in Prince George’s County with the raid on the home of a mayor. A pattern has been alleged in Maryland (though other states have faced alleged unnecessary shooting of family dogs).

Hasenei is pursuing a police complaint.

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