SWAT Rampage Destroys Iraq Vet's Home Over Guns

Published on May 30, 2012
Duration: 10:18

This video details the case of Army Sergeant Matthew Corgan, an Iraq veteran, whose home was raided by a SWAT team due to a misunderstanding with a suicide prevention hotline. The raid resulted in the seizure of his firearms and ammunition, leading to charges for violating DC gun laws. Despite the charges being dropped after a judge ruled the search illegal, the DC government is refusing to return the seized firearms, arguing they are contraband akin to narcotics. The attorney for Sergeant Corgan plans to litigate this issue, citing the Supreme Court's Heller decision.

Quick Summary

A SWAT team raided Army Sergeant Matthew Corgan's home based on a false report from a suicide hotline. Though charges were dropped after the search was deemed illegal, DC authorities refuse to return his firearms, arguing they are contraband akin to narcotics, a stance challenged by his attorney citing the Heller decision.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Attorney Richard Gardner
  2. 00:09DC Gun Laws and Military Members
  3. 00:39Case of Army Sergeant Matthew Corgan
  4. 00:49SWAT Team Raid on Corgan's Home
  5. 01:01Misunderstanding with Suicide Hotline
  6. 01:40Waking to a SWAT Team at 4 AM
  7. 02:26False Information to 911
  8. 02:48SWAT and EOD Team Response
  9. 03:17What Happened to Sergeant Corgan?
  10. 03:32Red Dots and Surrender
  11. 03:55Interrogation Without Rights
  12. 04:09Refusal to Give Key, Door Broken Down
  13. 04:38Initial Search and Dog Removal
  14. 04:46Explosives Ordinance Disposal Team
  15. 04:58Discovery of Fireworks and Firearms
  16. 05:13Unregistered Firearms and Ammunition
  17. 05:47Moving Out of DC
  18. 05:52Veteran's Hospital Stay
  19. 06:22Arrest After Hospital Release
  20. 06:33Held in DC Jail for Two Weeks
  21. 06:47Reason for Extended Jail Stay: Misspelled Name
  22. 07:17Travesty of Justice
  23. 07:30Prosecution on 10 Counts
  24. 07:59Legal Battle in Virginia
  25. 08:06Motion to Suppress Evidence
  26. 08:14Judge Rules Search Illegal
  27. 08:30DC Government Drops Charges
  28. 08:35Refusal to Return Firearms
  29. 08:53Litigating the Return of Property
  30. 09:01DC Treating Firearms as Narcotics
  31. 09:14Legal Standing of DC's Argument
  32. 09:21Heller Decision and Constitutional Protection
  33. 09:37Anticipated Court of Appeals Battle
  34. 10:01Conclusion and Thanks

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was a SWAT team sent to Army Sergeant Matthew Corgan's home?

A SWAT team was dispatched to Sergeant Corgan's home due to a misunderstanding with a suicide prevention hotline. The operator, after receiving incorrect information about the number, mistakenly reported to 911 that Sergeant Corgan had a gun and intended to commit suicide, neither of which was true.

What happened to Sergeant Corgan after the SWAT raid?

Sergeant Corgan surrendered peacefully. He was interrogated without Miranda rights, and later arrested and held in DC jail for two weeks. Charges were eventually dropped after a judge ruled the search of his home illegal.

Why are DC authorities refusing to return Sergeant Corgan's firearms?

Despite the charges being dropped due to an illegal search, DC authorities are refusing to return Sergeant Corgan's firearms. They are arguing that firearms seized in the district are treated as contraband, similar to narcotics, and therefore do not need to be returned.

What is the legal basis for challenging DC's refusal to return the firearms?

The legal challenge is based on the Supreme Court's Heller decision, which established firearms as constitutionally protected. The argument is that constitutionally protected items cannot simultaneously be considered contraband like narcotics, and thus should be returned after an illegal seizure.

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