Several surveillance cameras were running when the house of Tyrolean Fritz S. suddenly received a “visit” from the special police unit. “Exaggerated,” the Unterlander shakes his head. But the public prosecutor disagrees.
The scenes took place on June 20, but the aftermath is still ongoing: at 7:34 p.m. the Tyrolean German Shepherd suddenly starts barking, seconds later Cobra officers in full gear run through the carport, open the front door and shout “Police , Police!”
It takes about twenty seconds before the Unterländer comes up the outside stairs from the cellar with a bare torso. The delay is understandable: the Tyrolean can walk, but suffers from multiple sclerosis.
Fortunately, the situation does not escalate and it ends with a conversation with the officers. “I still believed that people in costumes would insult me,” says the 51-year-old, describing the experience.
House searches and a weapons ban
The police then carried out a search. A rifle (“I own it well!”), an empty pistol, a laptop and a mobile phone were seized. A temporary weapons ban was also imposed.
Why all this? Fritz S. describes the end of his relationship. There was an argument about sports equipment that his ‘ex’ still had with him. And yes, he then sent the photo of his gun to the father of his ex-girlfriend via WhatsApp. But not as a threat, the man is also a gun owner and they have often talked about that, assures the Unterländer.
A relationship ending and its consequences
However: sending the gun photo came at the end of the relationship. In response to a ‘Krone’ request, Hansjörg Mayr, spokesperson for the Innsbruck Public Prosecutor’s Office, emphasized: “There were certain messages that could be interpreted as an announcement of an act of violence.” That is why the Cobra was used. It is up to the police to decide what force to use in such cases.
Fritz S. got his belongings back after a few days. And a letter from the Public Prosecution Service stating that there is ‘no factual reason for further prosecution’. Mayr specifies: “The suspect explained the situation, but the evidence was no longer sufficient.”
The Unterländer did not request a justification for the cessation within fourteen days. But he does not want to let the matter rest and calls in the disability lawyer, who in turn refers him to the Ombudsman. The most important accusation: this Cobra mission was unjustified…
“Krone” note: It’s better to be safe than sorry
A gun owner is in a very emotional situation, a family member suspects something bad and sounds the alarm. Should two police officers ring the doorbell? What if the situation escalates and third parties may suffer harm?
Then some self-proclaimed experts and some media at the regular table said: you should have known that! In this case the Cobra approached and the person so surprised seemed more surprised than dangerous. The fact that there is not even a case against him ultimately clouds the optics. But the police motto should be: ‘It’s better to be safe than sorry.’
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
