In Fairfax, VA, Army reservist Matthew Corrigan, was suffering from depresion and decided to call what he thought to be a “Military Emotional Support Hotline.” The number was in fact, the National Suicide Hotline. While Mr. Corrigan spoke with the representative on the other line, he answered several questions in which he stated that he was a veteran and a gun owner. The young man said nothing of suicidal tendencies or harming anyone with his firearm during this brief conversation. After Corrigan turned his phone off, he took his sleeping medication and fell asleep.
At approximately 4 a.m. in the morning Mr. Corrigan awoke to his name being called over a bullhorn while flood lights covered his home. Police and SWAT team had surrounded his house with firearms drawn. Mr. Corrigan exited his home and locked the door behind him just before being handcuffed and thrown into the back of a SWAT truck. At this time Mr. Corrigan was asked by officers to give them his key. Corrigan stated ‘There is no way I am giving you consent to enter my place.’ According to the complaint filed by Mr. Corrigan one officer stated:
I don’t have time to play this constitutional bullshit!
The law enforcer then ordered the other officers to enter Corrigan’s home. Mr. Corrigan was taken to the VA hospital when police broke into his residence without a warrant, confiscated 3 of his firearms, destroyed property and took his dog to an animal shelter. Three days later after staying at the VA hospital and declared not to be a suicide risk, Mr. Corrigan was released only to be rearrested and placed in jail for almost 16 days. When Corrigan returned to his apartment, he found the front door unsecured, the stove left on, and every drawer and shelf dumped into piles along with everything in his closets.
Mr. Corrigan is seeking more than $500,000 in damages from the government for constitutional violations.
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