Attacking a man’s home, then calling him a terrorist is unacceptable

A few weeks ago, The Des Moines Register printed an article entitled “Manning Man Faces Terrorism Charge After Standoff,” which has warranted deep concern about the new emerging reality of police/citizen relations. First we need to reframe the incident by which David Wurr of Carroll County was forcefully evicted from his home then charged with terrorism.

David Wurr was in his own home when police showed up for a “welfare check” requested by Wurr’s family. David chose to not respond, which is a perfectly legal, lawful and legitimate response when police come to your home. No law requires you to let police into your home or interview you without a warrant of entry.

The police then continued to escalate the situation and brought many more officers. Among these officers were combat units dressed in subdued combat uniforms, with body armor, helmets and assault rifles. For 11 hours they harassed Mr.Wurr and thanks to the unprovoked intimidation and show of overwhelming force, the undoubtedly frustrated and likely scared victim allegedly fired shots toward the assaulting police force in defense of himself and home.

Sheriff Doug Bass was quoted as saying, “We had to do something.”

But the something they decided to do was to violently assault his home with tear gas (a poison) to overcome Wurr and force him to leave his home. This is key to understanding the alarming mentality that our police have when confronting citizens.

We must emphasize that the police caused this issue. They provoked Mr. Wurr, and after refusing to recognize this man’s rights to not interact with the police in his own home, they escalated it by bringing an overwhelming show of force including combat SWAT units. They then finished the situation that they started by poisoning him with gas until he left his home.

And now, David Wurr is being charged by police with terrorism? This is disgusting and alarming. It is unacceptable that Carroll County Attorney John Werden will prosecute David Wurr with terrorism. There is no doubt here that the police are the terrorists for they initiated terrorizing this peaceful man in his own home who exercised his rights of the Fourth and Fifth amendments to not interact with the police without a court-ordered warrant.

David Wurr could be anyone. A summary of these events show that by utilizing your constitutional rights, you may be violently assaulted and then charged with terrorism.

We need to stand up for David Wurr, not for condoning his use of arms, but for condemning the police and the prosecutor for terrorizing Iowans. If we do not, and David Wurr is found guilty, it will be just that much easier for the next person to become a victim of the police and the prosecutor. Not to mention, a willful participation in the defacing of the rule of law in our country — The Constitution of the United States.

Richard Johnson

Des Moines

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