Mr. Ragsdale went on vacation. He gave his neighbor a key to his house and authority with the alarm company. He came home from vacation early, didn't tell his neighbor, set off the alarm, then turned it off and went to bed. The neighbor called 911. When the police arrived, the neighbor unlocked the door, let the police in and told them no one should be in the house. Mr. Ragsdale shot one of the officers as he was coming up the steps to the second story. The officers never announced themselves.
Ragsdale was never charged.The two officers were let into Mr. Ragsdale’s home July 14 by a neighbor after they searched outside the residence. The neighbor, who had a key and was on the alarm company’s list of people to notify regarding the residence, told police Mr. Ragsdale was on vacation and that the home should be empty, according to police.
Police were unaware, however, that Mr. Ragsdale had reportedly come home and set off the alarm. The officers, who were in full uniform and arrived in a marked cruiser, noticed a dim light on the second floor and saw a shadowy figure, according to police. They entered the home to search the interior and Officer Rice was shot by Mr. Ragsdale, who was alone in the home, as he reached the second floor. Chief Sampson said Mr. Ragsdale’s wife and children were on vacation at the time.
The officers did not announce who they were and that they were entering the home. Such an announcement could be useful in certain circumstances, but could also give away an officer’s tactical advantage, depending on the situation, Chief Sampson said.
I'll bet the folks on this forum can point out several mistakes that were made, not least Mr. Ragsdale not informing his neighbor that he was home.