What not to do when your alarm goes off

**M1911** · 07-14-2006, 04:30 PM

Friday, July 14, 2006
Shrewsbury police officer recovering after shooting

By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff

A Shrewsbury police officer is in stable condition today after he was shot a few inches below his bullet proof best by a homeowner when he responded to a burglar alarm, police said.

Officer Stephen Rice, 25, underwent surgery on his abdomen and is expected to recover.

Shrewsbury Police Chief Wayne Sampson this afternoon described a hospital visit with Rice, choking up as he recalled that the wounded officer had asked about his partner, who was not injured.

“We respond to thousands of calls like this every year,” Sampson said at a press conference at Town Hall. “We don't want anything like this happening to happen to anybody.”

The last time an officer was shot in Shrewsbury was 31 years ago, he said.

Rice and Officer Ryan Chartrand responded to the alarm at 2:31 a.m. on Farmington Drive, according to a press release posted by police on the town’s Web site.

The homeowner, Mark Ragsdale, 39, had “reportedly” returned home from vacation and “set off the alarm,” the press release said.

A neighbor told the officers that Ragsdale was still on vacation, police said. The officers searched the outside of the home and then went inside.

Police said when Rice reached the second floor, Ragsdale shot him. Rice was taken to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center for surgery.

Ragsdale, who has a licensed to carry firearms in Massachusetts, has not been charged. Shrewsbury police and District Attorney John Conte’s office are investigating the incident.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/cit...bury_poli.html

daceman63 · 07-14-2006, 04:36 PM

this isn't gonna be good for licensed gun owners.

**tele_mark** · 07-14-2006, 04:38 PM

Unbelievable that in Mass, the homeowner hasn't been charged. True enough, he's negligent in that he should've known without a doubt what his target was, but for him to be in MetroWest and not be sitting there with his license and firearms revoked blows my mind, makes me look at these LEO's with reverence, and gives me a little bit of feeling of hope for this troubled state.

**SKS Ray** · 07-14-2006, 04:38 PM

Reminds me of that old Surefire add that said "Identify Your Target" and had a picture of Santa Claus holding a half eaten cookie with his hands up shielding his eyes from the Surefire light.

daceman63 · 07-14-2006, 04:40 PM

hopefully the cop will be ok....

I don't know how much it matters but I wonder if he ID'd himself.

**M1911** · 07-14-2006, 04:42 PM

Unbelievable that in Mass, the homeowner hasn't been charged.

yet.

**derek** · 07-14-2006, 04:47 PM

I'm surprised his partner didn't light him up. I would have guessed that the LEO's wouldn't have known if he was the home owner or a burgler once the shot was fired.

**stinx** · 07-14-2006, 05:50 PM

Him being in full uniform should be enough. If the home owmer was sure of his target, he would of realized it was a police officer in uniform. The home owner is screwed. Even if the guy argues he was in fear for his life, he has to be able to explain what put him into fear. Somebody being inside your house by itself is not enough, Deadly force can only be used when no other option is left.

**JimB** · 07-14-2006, 06:04 PM

This kinda stinks, i really don't like that LEO's are harmed protecting us.

The shooter was to anxious and did not understand his situation. Take
every precaution.

I was not there and it makes it hard to criticize.

JimB

**dreppucci007** · 07-14-2006, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by derek

I'm surprised his partner didn't light him up. I would have guessed that the LEO's wouldn't have known if he was the home owner or a burgler once the shot was fired.

I thought the same, too.

What not to do when your alarm goes off

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