Police in Montgomery, Alabama Tear-Gassed the Wrong House Searching for Shooting Suspect Desmonte Leonard
A manhunt continues in Alabama for Desmonte Leonard, who police suspect killed three people at a party near the campus of the University of Auburn over the weekend. Monday afternoon, police thought they had trapped Leonard in a house. According to the Associated Press, police fired “tear gas, [used] thermal imaging and [sent] tactical teams on forays inside the house,” but came up empty.
While authorities were at the home Monday, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said they were going to scour the attic, air conditioning ducts and “every crevice” of the house until they were satisfied. They were drilling holes and tearing through pieces of the house. They vowed to repay the house’s owner or rebuild the structure.
Investigators said thermal imaging and other technology showed a person was in the attic area of the house and that they’d heard coughing and movement. But after midnight, they acknowledged that they hadn’t heard those noises for several hours.
Leonard wasn’t in the house. It appears nobody was. Police abruptly left around 2:25 am. [AP via Ritty]

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35 Responses to “Police in Montgomery, Alabama Tear-Gassed the Wrong House Searching for Shooting Suspect Desmonte Leonard”
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June 12th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Man, it really sucks when you’re trying to cop some z’s and the police light up your house with tear gas. That’s the worst!
June 12th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
According to the Associated Press, police fired “tear gas, [used] thermal imaging and [sent] tactical teams on forays inside the house,” but came up empty.
That’s just some damn fine police work.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Staked out an abandoned house to make sure the public knew how seriously they were taking the case, perhaps?
/wild speculation
June 12th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Jason…it’s Auburn University. Not the University of Auburn. Happens all the time.
FBI said somebody called in a tip they had dropped the perp off at the house. There is confusion now if the tip was wrong or if the police just got the wrong address.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Sheriff Coltrane and Deputy Fife are usually much more reliable than this.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
I would really like to see what a thermal image of someones attic looks like in the middle of the summer. I assume it would just look like a giant sun.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
/patiently waits for spencer and his sunglasses
June 12th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Auburn police chief on press conference now…thanks Montgomery police for all the manpower they used last night…sidesteps question why they got the wrong house.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
If the homeowner lied about the perp being in the house or gave the police false info., is the house still going to be fixed on the police/government dime?
June 12th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Deputy Fife
what a face on that guy, especially when excited. up there with marty feldman
June 12th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Auburn Police Cheif: “We’ve never been through anything like this in Auburn, Alabama.
Montgomery Police Chief: This kind of stuff happens alllll the time.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:17 AM
APparently it wasn’t the homeowner who called in the tip. And the police have already said they are going to repair damages.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
“Now, this technology is new to me, but…I’m pretty sure that’s him in the oven, rotating slowly. His body temperature has risen to over 400 degrees. He’s literally stewing in his own juices”
June 12th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
It’s not like they were actually ever going to repair it in the first place.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
“Of course, without some type of infrared camera, we can’t see inside the Simpson compound…so let’s turn it on. There is what we can only assume is Homer Simpson, slowly roasting at 450 degrees, literally cooking in his own juices.”
June 12th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
And the police have already said they are going to repair damages.
union remodelers will inflate the rat
June 12th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
What is this, Ghost Hunters International?
June 12th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
/hi fives Butters
June 12th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Now Auburn police saying the Montgomery police raided the correct house that they were tipped off to and it wasn’t just a matter of pulling up to the incorrect address. Police disputing Reuters report saying FBI claimed otherwise. Classic case of Locals vs. Feds here.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Goddammit Butters! I knew I shouldn’t have answered the phone call.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
That sounds like a concept for a Pink Floyd touring production.
All in all it’s just another rat in the wall
June 12th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
So did they not ask the homeowner any questions? Generally speaking, if I own a home, I know whether or not someone is in my attic, no? I could be wrong, but I don’t think this guy pulled a St. Nick and went down through the chimney.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
https://twitter.com/chambc1/status/212565055315783681/photo/1
Mug Shot.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:24 AM
I don’t think I’ve seen a story with any quotes from or about the homeowner. There is a chance they weren’t home when the police showed up.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Glory holes?
June 12th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Thanks Ritty. That would make more sense. I’ve been following HABOTN on twitter but had heard no explanation regarding the homeowner or any information they had or they had passed on to the investigators.
June 12th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Good job, good effort
June 12th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
at least those racoons that were making a nest in the attic are probably not coming back after all that ruckus
June 12th, 2012 at 11:45 AM
The best part of the whole night was the constant news coverage…. Especially considering a massive storm came through around 10:30 with 50 mph winds. Poor little newspeople on the front lawn.
June 12th, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Least surprising angle to this story: Alabamans.
June 12th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
terrible story, but could you imagine the outrage if something like this happened at Miami and not some swimming and diving school
June 12th, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Outrage in Miami over murders? Or just another episode of the First 48?
June 12th, 2012 at 12:29 PM
cmon irish and ritty, i’m rooting for great banter
June 12th, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Auburn is a swimming and diving school RittyRich, football school yea right
June 12th, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Jason…it’s Auburn University. Not the University of Auburn. Happens all the time.
when talking about a swimming & diving school and paying players