[420 Girl]

The Columbia Police Department was in the process of evaluating how its Special Weapons and Tactics Team, or SWAT, is used in narcotic investigations when the team executed a warrant at 1501 Kinloch Court in February.

“It was unfortunate timing,” said Lt. Scott Young, SWAT commander. “We were in the process of considering a lot of changes. We were already having meetings to improve narcotic investigations, then this happened.”

Columbia police spokeswoman Jessie Haden said there sometimes was a lag between the time a warrant was issued and when SWAT could execute the warrant. The problem was SWAT members’ primary assignments, such as their role as beat officers or investigators, would take precedence over SWAT and they would have to work overtime to participate in SWAT operations.

Young said changes began to develop upon the arrival of Chief Ken Burton last year.

Young said drug dealers try to move their product as quickly as possible, so the timing of narcotic investigations is critical. He said SWAT members now are more available for SWAT operations because of this.

“Chief Burton has freed us up to do this when they are needed, not when it is convenient,” Young said. “He is making efforts to allow us to act quickly on intelligence.”

But that process was not complete at the time of the February raid at Jonathan E. Whitworth’s home.

The warrant authorizing SWAT and investigators to enter Whitworth’s home was approved by Boone County Associate Circuit Judge Leslie Schneider on Feb 3., and the raid happened Feb. 11.

Investigators were working with intelligence from two informants that claimed Whitworth had a large amount of high-grade marijuana at his residence, according to the warrant, which also noted that Whitworth had a prior arrest for suspicion of possession of marijuana and manufacturing a controlled substance. One of the informants told police he or she had seen the marijuana in Whitworth’s home within 10 days of the warrant’s approval.

Columbia police Detective Ronald Hall Jr. also conducted a trash grab at Whitworth’s home on Jan. 27. He found baggies containing narcotic residue and items of drug paraphernalia with residue on them, according to the warrant.

So when SWAT entered the home, investigators believed Whitworth was in possession of a large amount of marijuana and was considered a distributor. SWAT is used when executing warrants on distributors because they often have a history with firearms.

SWAT members stormed into the home at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and shot two of Whitworth’s dogs. They found only a grinder, a pipe and a misdemeanor amount of marijuana. Whitworth pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia.

“We are hypercritical, even when an operation goes perfect,” Young said. “After every search warrant, the team discusses what happened and what could have been done better, and then we train.”

Deputy Chief Tom Dresner, former SWAT commander, has said he is confident narcotics were in Whitworth’s residence before police entry.

Haden said an internal affairs investigation of the incident should be completed in two weeks.

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