"Roach said it was understood that there was ``the potential for customers'' inside the store. But he said SWAT operations are done in a carefully coordinated and precise time frame."

Exactly. This is more than a mere shoplifting arrest, it was a multi-million dollar enterprise that was being brought down. Sorry she got caught up in it, but that is the way it is. The primary goal in SWAT raids is to quickly take charge of the scene and avoid casulties and destruction of evidence. Sounds like they did their job.

"Prince said her son, who has asthma, was soaking wet from being on the ground. She said she took him to a doctor the next day for breathing problems and she has been a bundle of nerves since."

And now we get to the real point of the story. Does anyone doubt an intentional infliction of emotional distress lawsuit if far behind?

We need these SWAT teams in Iraq.

Unfortunately, there's a large portion of America who is willing to give up the safety of innocent people in order to have the spectacle of big guns and big expolosions being used against criminals. This is a good example -- there was no crime in progress; no effort to simply arrest the guys.

We have way more SWAT resources in this country than we really need for fighting the threats that SWAT is to be used for -- crimes in progress, hostage situations, taking down groups of heavily armed criminals. Here, one store owner with a handgun on his hip (nothing illegal about that, convenience stores get robbed all the time) warranted risking the lives of several innocent people.

America is less safe, not because of the criminals, but because of the country's basic fascination and infatuation with using the biggest guns and most overwhelming force possible against criminals. We imprison more people than any developed nation in the world, and we put women and children at risk just so that the SWAT team can stretch its legs and put its training to use.

Worst comment spam ever.

I think arguing the merits of this specific case misses the overall point, which is the question of how often SWAT teams should be used. It has been 14 years since the Waco disaster, which should have been a wake-up call about the use of paramilitary force in normal police work. I think we have more to fear from the government than we do from criminals.