A local woman said the Kern County Sheriff's Department and a local bail bondsman violated her civil rights by forcing entry into her home, and she caught it all on tape. A local bail bondsman and attorney who are not affiliated with this case says it was illegal.
"The bail enforcement agent came from behind her like he may have went through a window which is against the law," Glenn Pierce of Gotta Go Bail Bonds said. "He basically broke into her house."
Pierce has worked in the business for thirteen years and was stunned by the youtube video of sheriff's deputies and a bail bonds enforcement official forcing their way into a local woman's home. He says bondsmen don't need a warrant, but they can only enter a home if they are chasing the person of interest and see them run into a building or home.
Pierce also says it's against policy for the sheriff's department to team up with bail bonds enforcement, but more troubling, he says is the way this woman was treated. Attorney H.A. Sala also viewed the video and believes laws were broken
"They have to knock, state a purpose, say they have a warrant and give time for the person to surrender," Sala said. Sala says authorities were already in the home, before telling the woman why they were there. In the video, authorities were asking for Joseph Baker who was arrested for battery on a peace officer in September. Baker was not found in the home which Sala says could give more grounds for a lawsuit against he Kern County Sheriff's Department.
Sala says there must be a search warrant issued to enter a home, but authorities don't have to show it to civilians. He says this is usually not an issue because officers and deputies explain why they are at someone's home. Sala believes the conduct in this case was out of line.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood said he can't comment because an internal affairs investigation is being launched.
