SWAT Team Storms Home With Guns Drawn To Take Sick Child

An Arizona family was terrified when a SWAT team burst through their door with guns drawn in the middle of the night. The police weren't looking for dangerous criminals, they were looking for a sick two-year-old child.

The ordeal began last month when the family brought their child, who is not vaccinated, to a doctor at the College of Naturopathic Medicine clinic in Tempe, which is about 25 miles from their home. The young boy had a 105-degree fever and the doctor told them to take the boy to the emergency room.

The family decided not to do so after their son's fever broke. When the doctor learned the family never went to the emergency room, she called the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). Officials from DCS contacted the police in Chandler, who attempted to schedule a welfare check with the boy's parents.

When they refused, the department sent officers to the home, but the family declined to answer the door. When officers heard the child coughing inside, they broke down the front door and stormed inside.

"The doctor chose to use DCS to remove the child, and DCS chose to use the police, and the police chose to use the SWAT team," State Representative Kelly Townsend said. "That is not the country that I recognize."

Officials took custody of the boy and his two sisters, ages four and six, and brought them to the hospital before they were given to their grandparents. The parents were not arrested but officials say they could face charges. They have a hearing next month to determine if they will be able to maintain custody of their three children.