Minneapolis Pays $1 Million to Victim of Botched Police Raid
Last year, an 18-member Minneapolis SWAT team stormed an apartment searching for a drug dealer, narcotics, and a gun. They found none of the above, but did severely injure one of the residents and are now paying for their mistake. The Minneapolis City Council approved a $1 million settlement for the woman injured in the raid, though this wasn’t the first nor the costliest settlement paid out after a grenade thrown by police.
The warrant for the apartment in South Minneapolis mandated police announce themselves. They applied for a “no-knock” warrant, but did not receive it. The people who were in the apartment at the time of the raid said no one announced anything; they simply heard a loud noise and the door was busted in.
The man police were looking for was not at the apartment. When the police broke in, the resident of the home was seated on the floor playing a video game with a friend. His girlfriend, Rickia Russell was seated on the couch.
After the police broke in, a flash grenade rolled across the floor and landed at Russell’s feet. When it exploded, it took part of her leg, leaving an indentation and 3rd and 4th degree burns. It has since required weeks of hospitalization, months of physical therapy, and surgery including skin grafts removed from her scalp.
The police, not surprisingly, admit no wrongdoing. They claim the grenade was set down in the entry way, not rolled towards or thrown into the home. But Russell’s attorney argues that for the grenade to land where it did, the officers either threw it blindly or actually saw people in the room and threw it anyways. They also maintain that they announced themselves before breaking in the door.
Of the $1 million, Russell will receive $600,000 and her attorney will get $400,000. The officers received no discipline for their actions.
Police misconduct reports in the city were on pace to set a record this year. And although payouts by the city have dropped in number under police Chief Tim Dolan, their cost has doubled. $4.5 million was paid to a police officer who was mistakenly shot by another cop. $2.19 was paid to the family of a mentally disturbed man who was shot and killed by police in 2006.
When it comes to the use of SWAT teams with battering rams and grenades, the incidents seem to be on the rise. Though the cops in this case were searching for one man with one gun, they thought it necessary to bring 18 officers with shields and assault weapons.
The actions of police often seem extreme when compared with the actions of suspects. The same can be said whether we are discussing an arrest for drug possession or a traffic stop that results in a DUI charge. As the defendant in a criminal case, it wouldn’t be unusual for you to feel as if you were treated poorly by the police.
Often, your defense lawyer is the only one who seems to be interested in getting you a fair shake in the criminal justice system. If you are accused of a criminal offense, contact our offices today to discuss the details of your case and how we might be able to help.