Police raid wrong home

jgullock · Jun 8, 2007

This happened in Maryland I believe, but still interesting. I'd be lawyering up...

http://www.capitalonline.com/cgi-bin/re ... _07-70/TOP

Police raid wrong home

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Resident says officers didn't ID themselves, kicked husband in groin
By JEFF HORSEMAN and E.B. FURGURSON III Staff Writers
Annapolis narcotics officers hit the wrong apartment last night while serving a search and seizure warrant, terrorizing the four tenants and damaging their home.

With rifles in hand, police forcibly entered the apartment at 905 Primrose Road at 8:20 p.m. while a couple was fixing dinner. The other two tenants were at the grocery store.

According to police reports, a woman in the apartment barricaded a bedroom door with her body as about 15 officers burst through the front door. The tenants are natives of El Salvador and spoke little English.

The Annapolis Special Emergency Team then used what was described as a noise flash device and were able to enter the bedroom.

The woman, identified by police as Silvia Bernal, 30, said police never identified themselves and kicked her husband in the groin and pushed her to the ground before handcuffing them both.

Through an interpreter, she said she felt like she "was going to die right then."

The other tenants would not give their names for fear of retaliation.

As the second couple returned from the store, they heard Mrs. Bernal screaming. While attempting to come to her aid, police pushed them to the floor, the victims said. The second woman, who is 4-months pregnant, clung to a railing inside the building while her husband pleaded with police to take it easy on his pregnant wife. The husband said an officer replied: "I don't care."

Moments later, an officer on the scene exited the building and realized a mistake had been made. They were supposed to have hit 901 Primrose.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Bernal, who said she has a heart condition, told officers she couldn't breathe.

One them pushed her to the outside balcony before all four residents were taken to the hospital.

Realizing the error, police then gave assistance to the four. Mrs. Bernal said someone apologized for the mistake and an officer asked her to sign a paper. She refused.

Mrs. Bernal was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

The pregnant woman, who complained of having stomach pains, was evaluated and released.

Mary Schumaker, a board member of the Centro De Ayuda, called the raid unconscionable and said her center would provide prenatal care to the pregnant woman along with other assistance.

"We don't know how the mistake was made," said Officer Hal Dalton, city police spokesman.

"Something went wrong in the briefing before the operation.

Regrettably it happens, not very often to us, but it happens."

He said an investigation is under way to find out what happened. "We are evaluating it to see what steps can be made to prevent similar events in the future."

After checking with the officer who obtained the warrant, the narcotics officers and tactical squad proceeded to the correct address, which was found empty.

The apartment maintenance crew arrived to make repairs.

This morning, the large dent remained in the front door and two large black stains from the flash-bang grenades were on the carpet.

Latisha Marshall, property manager of Spa Cove, said police gave them no warning of the raid or any drug activity and said officers did more damage to the apartment they accidentally raided than the intended target.

"We were blindsided by this," she said. "People should be treated with decency."
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Sharky · Jun 8, 2007

Now this sort of thing happens here to one of us. We protect ourselves, shoot a police officer, go to jail on manslaughter.......

Right?

I hate these kinds of things and pray it never happens to me.

Axeman · Jun 8, 2007

Sharky said:

Now this sort of thing happens here to one of us. We protect ourselves, shoot a police officer, go to jail on manslaughter.......

Right?

I have these kinds of things and pray it never happens to me.
Click to expand...

+1 I have wondered everytime I read one or these stories, if i would still be alive to face charges. You fire at them they keep firing back, UGLY.

That officer who said he didn't care about the woman being pregnant should be brought up on assult charges, 2 counts.

luke0927 · Jun 8, 2007

Sharky said:

Now this sort of thing happens here to one of us. We protect ourselves, shoot a police officer, go to jail on manslaughter.......

Right?

I hate these kinds of things and pray it never happens to me.
Click to expand...

Yep if your lucky more than likely we would be taking the eternal dirt nap.....they come blasting through.... you get off a few rounds then 4-5 officers open full fire....might take a few with you but i doubt you will come out nicely....... and if you were lucky to survive I'm sure you would be prosecute under some crazy loophole that you defended your home but they were police officers and they identified themselves even if they didn't your word against theirs.

Anothe reason im glad i don't live in an APT or subdivision.....

GeorgiaGlocker · Jun 8, 2007

I would sue until the Police Chief's mama cried.

Macktee · Jun 8, 2007

GeorgiaGlocker said:

I would sue until the Police Chief's mama cried.
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If you're lucky, you might (might I say) get an apology. If they were doing their job and simply made an honest mistake, no harm - no foul and no cause for action.

So let's recap.

Cops make a mistake and bust into your house breaking down the door, shooting your dog, terrorizing your family, putting everyone in handcuffs, tearing the place apart and leaving.

You can sue and get nothing. I don't know of anyone who has won one of these.

You can get off a couple of quick shots and end up dead.

Not much of a choice...

But, look at the big picture. If we are to ensure the War on Drugs is vigorously prosecuted, some mistakes will be made. But we must get drugs off the streets. It's for the children.

So, suck it up and quit whining...!

Or, we could do the logical and unthinkable thing by legalizing the damn drugs and putting an end to this crap!

Rammstein · Jun 8, 2007

This is shocking! I've never heard of such ridiculousness.

AV8R · Jun 8, 2007

As the second couple returned from the store, they heard Mrs. Bernal screaming. While attempting to come to her aid, police pushed them to the floor, the victims said. The second woman, who is 4-months pregnant, clung to a railing inside the building while her husband pleaded with police to take it easy on his pregnant wife. The husband said an officer replied: "I don't care."
Click to expand...

Any wonder why so many people hate the police these days? I'm not anti-LEO, but if this happened to me and my family I would certainly be plotting something in revenge.

luke0927 · Jun 8, 2007

Macktee said:

GeorgiaGlocker said:

I would sue until the Police Chief's mama cried.
Click to expand...

If you're lucky, you might (might I say) get an apology. If they were doing their job and simply made an honest mistake, no harm - no foul and no cause for action.

So let's recap.

Cops make a mistake and bust into your house breaking down the door, shooting your dog, terrorizing your family, putting everyone in handcuffs, tearing the place apart and leaving.

You can sue and get nothing. I don't know of anyone who has won one of these.

You can get off a couple of quick shots and end up dead.

Not much of a choice...

But, look at the big picture. If we are to ensure the War on Drugs is vigorously prosecuted, some mistakes will be made. But we must get drugs off the streets. It's for the children.

So, suck it up and quit whining...!

Or, we could do the logical and unthinkable thing by legalizing the damn drugs and putting an end to this crap!
Click to expand...

whahahahahah your joking right whhahahahah!

GeorgiaGlocker · Jun 11, 2007

Is there any case law concerning this?

Rammstein · Jun 11, 2007

GeorgiaGlocker said:

Is there any case law concerning this?
Click to expand...

Yes. It is covered in Bohica v. State.

GeorgiaGlocker · Jun 11, 2007

Rammstein said:

GeorgiaGlocker said:

Is there any case law concerning this?
Click to expand...

Yes. It is covered in Bohica v. State.
Click to expand...

Well, after reading Ramm's case law of Bohica v State, I stand corrected. I withdraw my previous post that I would sue the Police Chief!

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Police raid wrong home

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