Here, here's the thing. Right now, I just want to step in and talk to you. >> I don't want you to step in. Thank you. >> You want to step out? >> No, that's this is fine. I'm safe here. >> I'm asking if we can check make sure your kids have food. Make sure that your house is is fine so that we can deal with this situation tonight and we can go. >> Why don't you just go? I already told you my kids are fine. You guys don't believe me? >> Because CPS is going to come back and knock on your door. >> Oh, that's fine. Then, as long as they get a warrant, man, I'll most more than gladly let them in. >> So, my question is again, you want to work [snorts] with us tonight? Why would I want to work with you, man? Are you going to give me half your check? >> Are you going to pay me? [clears throat] >> You going to give me some money, bro? >> Are you trying to give me some money so I can help you do your job? >> In this encounter, these cops showed up at this father's home after receiving a complaint about a possible injury to one of his children. But the situation quickly turned into a battle over whether they could enter his house without his permission. The father told them his kids were fine, demanded to know why they needed to come inside, and made it clear that he was not opening his door just because officers wanted to check on the family. Instead of accepting the refusal, the officers kept pushing for entry while the father repeatedly demanded a warrant and challenged their reasoning. Watch how this father stands his ground as the officers keep trying to turn a welfare check into access to his home. Hi, >> Lambert. >> Yes. >> Can I talk to you a second? Yeah, talk. Okay. >> My name is Sergeant B Police Department. >> What's your name? Your badge number. >> So 693. >> Thank you. >> So you say, >> "What's going on tonight?" [snorts] >> Your men over there are bugging me. >> Okay. Do you Do they explain why we're here? >> Yeah, we're [ __ ] >> Okay. And And that's possible. >> It's possible, but how are they going to prove that? I asked them to show me the pictures to see what the they're looking at. They didn't even bother. >> Okay. You want to see the photos? >> Yeah. Show them to me right here. Right now on camera, please. So, so apparently this kid's got a black eye, but it doesn't appear that way to me when I look at the photo. >> I didn't see it. Can you show it to my camera, please? >> So, >> I need this for my lawyer. >> Okay. >> Yeah, thanks. >> I didn't even see it. >> I didn't see anything either. >> So, >> that's not really showing. >> Thank you for the proof, I guess. That's how you guys investigate everybody, man. That's a no wonder there's no, you know, people in jail and >> So, so here here's my question tonight. We're sitting outside of your door, right? You You guys haven't been sitting outside my door. You guys have been sitting over there in that corner cowering away, you know, instead of coming to my door and waiting right there while you guys wait for me. Look how long it took me to come down. Yet, your men didn't even do that. >> Kind of [ __ ] is that, man. >> Here's the thing. Right now, I just want to step in and talk to you. >> I don't want you to step in. Thank you. >> You want to step out? >> No, that's this is fine. I'm safe here, you know? I feel I feel You know, I'm I'm here with just a phone and a camera, man. You guys got guns. What kind of [ __ ] is that, man? You know. >> Okay. Wait, nobody's got a gun out. >> Nobody. Yeah, but you got your hand right there. You haven't moved it out your holster, man. What kind of [ __ ] is that? >> Cuz that's where I was. >> And your men wouldn't identify themselves. What kind of stuff is that, man? I asked them for the name of badge like I did. You at least you were professional. You know, these guys didn't even bother doing that kind of is that. >> So, here's the thing. >> Look, so I'm sorry for my language, man. You know, you understand where I'm coming from. You know, this is the this is the fourth time CPS has tried to take my children because of people, you understand? of people that I don't that I don't want to talk to, man. >> So, what has happened? What has happened in the past with the CPS? >> Same thing. All abuse, all marks, all cuts because my kids have disabilities. This learning disabilities. >> All right. >> All four times. This is the fourth time, man. >> I appreciate that. How many kids do you have? >> I have five kids. >> Okay. And how old are you? >> The one you saw in the picture right there, he's 2 years old. Okay. >> And he's hyper. >> How old are the rest of them? The one that the oldest one is nine. Then comes the one that's seven. Then after that, there's a six-year-old and a 5-year-old. And he's the youngest one. >> All right. Are they all boys? All girls. >> No, three boys. >> Two girls. >> Hey, I got three boys, too. You know what? They they get bruises, right? Boys are Boys or boys. They fall off stuff. They fall off my kids. You know, they get bruises. >> Look, you know what you guys could have done? You know what would have been better? instead of trying to bug and look at my kids and at this time of night when they have to go to sleep and go to school, you guys could have came in the morning, man. >> Okay, but here here, you know, you got to understand my my thing, too. If what they're telling us is that this these kids are currently in danger, there's something we got to work with. >> Hey, man, my next door neighbor is a cane. You know, she's the king queen pin of out here in Sou Falls. Are you going to investigate that? >> Absolutely. >> I don't have any proof, though. You know, I don't have fake ass like that. >> Okay. So, here here's the thing. We're talking through a door. I I don't even care about the camera staying on. Okay. But I mean, at this point in time, we we do a report for DSS or we go there's nothing here. >> Well, there's nothing here. >> Okay. So, then let me just come in and talk to you and we'll call. >> I don't want you coming in and tell you can tell you we're doing fine right here, man. I'm not worried about you being right there. I'm Are you worried about me being on this side of the door? Is that what it is? Is that why you want to come into my property? >> Not particularly. >> Okay, then. So, why do you want to come in so badly? >> Because I'd like to check on your children. >> Why would you like to check on my children? They're sleeping, man. They got to go to school in the morning, you know. >> You guys got food? You guys got all that stuff. >> We're well taken care of, man. I always provide for my kids. My kids got everything they need from here. >> I don't need be I don't need somebody coming up here trying to take my kids. >> I assume you're working somewhere. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> I'm a taxpaying citizen. That's why I know my rights, man. >> Which is great. And you know what? Here's the thing. I can obviously tell you're upset. Okay. >> Of course I'm upset, man. I have PTSD from California. You ever heard of the Rampart Division? They used to beat on us like we were nothing. How the am I not supposed to be afraid of the blue? Huh? >> Are you afraid of me? >> Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Cuz you got a gun and I don't. >> Okay. >> You got a nightstake and I don't. >> Am I talking? >> I don't even have I didn't have camera back then. But look at me now. I know my man. I don't trust you guys and I don't want you guys here. >> Did I threaten [snorts] you at all? >> You've been you you held your hand on your holster. That's very threatened, man. You know what I'm saying? So, you know what? >> I don't even have that to do. I don't even have anything like that for you. You know what I'm saying? That's up cuz I don't believe in that. But you guys come and bug me at this time of night. >> Okay. [snorts] What time did this call come in? >> What? >> I'm asking what time this call come? >> Uh, a little after 9. >> No [ __ ] man. [ __ ] It was 10:00. I know. Because the news had just started. I was trying to watch the news and you guys came and called me. >> That might have been the first time we made contact with you. >> This the first time you've made contact with me. >> Yeah, I just showed up. [clears throat] Yeah, but then you have your men calling me from personal cell phones, man. Hey, don't worry. I'mma for request that. You hear me? Okay. [snorts] >> Don't make sure you don't erase any from that, man. They take that forward request all that. You hear me? [snorts] >> What was that? >> I said, I assume it's a car phone. >> You know, it's one of the patrol car phones. >> I hope it's not a personal cell phone. That's all I'm saying. >> Okay. [snorts] >> So, here's where we're at. >> Because if you're telling me it's a car phone, man, and you're lying right now, >> I don't know. You know what I'm saying? You I know. No, don't worry. I know this phone number. I'll get it later. >> Okay, that's [snorts] fine. I'm telling you that I probably wouldn't. >> Yeah. Okay. So, as you were saying, sorry about that. I didn't mean to interrupt. >> So, [snorts] here here's my situation. Okay. I'm asking if we can check make sure your kids have food, make sure that your house is is fine so that we can deal with this situation tonight and we can go. >> Why don't you just go? I already told you my kids are fine. You guys don't believe me? >> Because CPS is going to come back and knock on your door. >> Oh, that's fine. As long as they get a warrant, man, they'll mostly more than gladly let them in. >> But you know, that's not the way it works with when it comes to CPS. >> Oh, really? Oh, well then that's nice. Well, hey, when they get a warrant, you know, that's fine cuz I know that they're going to if they come back in the morning, they're going to bring someone like you. >> Okay. >> You know, someone wearing a badge and a gun. >> Okay. So, my question is again, you [snorts] want to work with us tonight? >> Why would I want to work with you, man? Are you going to give me half your check? >> Oh, let's >> Are you going to pay me? >> You [clears throat] going to give me some money, bro? No. Are you trying to give me some money so I can help you do your job? >> No. I'm trying to stay out of your family business if there's nothing man. Don't laugh at him for me to be there. >> What's your problem? Look, man. Do you have a warrant? >> No. >> No. Okay. And uh what's that officer there hiding way behind you, man? What's your name and badge number? >> Shower 957. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. [snorts] >> So, I mean, here here's where we're at. We're we're at a stalemate. Okay. I'm not kicking your door in. >> Right. >> Cuz he can't. >> But I'm not. Right. cuz you can't you can't right >> you can't you got no warrant. >> So what I'm [clears throat] asking you is if I can come in and make sure that your your family is okay and at which case in point I I'm not even do report. We're done. We're out. >> You know what? I usually don't don't do this. You know I usually don't talk to you guys. I don't I would have shut my door days ago, man. But you've been very courteous. >> I'm decent with you. >> But look look just like you want to just come in without a warrant and all that. Finally, this encounter ended with the walk of shame as these cops tried to enter this father's home without a warrant. But this man stood his ground and didn't let these cops violate his rights. The biggest problem here is the officers repeatedly pushing for access to the home after the father had clearly refused consent. A welfare concern can justify an investigation, but that does not automatically give officers unlimited authority to enter a private home. The key issue is whether the circumstances gave them a lawful basis for warrantless entry. absent consent or a recognized exception to the warrant requirement. Officers generally cannot simply enter a home because they want to conduct a welfare check. This father repeatedly told them his children were fine, refused to allow them inside, and demanded a warrant. Instead of establishing the legal authority that would permit them to enter, the officers continued trying to persuade him to cooperate. The important lesson is that a police request to enter is not the same thing as legal authority to enter. When officers want access to a home, they need consent or a lawful basis for warrantless entry. And when that authority is not present, the proper course is to obtain the required legal authorization rather than repeatedly pressuring the homeowner at the