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Posted on 12/10/2011 4:26:35 PM PST by bamahead
The Minneapolis City Council approved a $1 million settlement Friday after a botched drug raid in 2010 in which an officer threw a "flash-bang" grenade into a Minneapolis apartment burning the flesh off a woman's leg.
The payout to Rickia Russell, who suffered permanent injuries, was the third largest payout for alleged Minneapolis police misconduct on record.
--SNIP--
On the night of Feb. 16, 2010, 18 officers were executing a search warrant on the apartment at 5753 Sander Drive based on a tip that narcotics were being sold at the address by someone named David Conley.
In what Bennett called "a cascading series of errors," a Minneapolis police SWAT team smashed down the door with a battering ram without warning, when the search warrant police had obtained required officers to announce themselves before entering.
Police had applied for a "no-knock" warrant but did not get it, Bennett said.
Police insist they shouted "search warrant" before knocking down the door, according to police reports, and say the grenade was dropped on the door threshold and not rolled toward Russell.
--SNIP--
Russell testified in a deposition that she heard a loud noise, the door flew open & police tossed the grenade in her direction.
"It blew up ... it was just a big boom, it was just light. The flash kind of blinded me ... There was dust."
On police orders, she lay face down on the floor and officers handcuffed her. Then she noticed her leg was burning and told Bogan, who was lying down next to her. When Bogan tried to tell officers about Russell's injuries, she said they told him to shut up.
Russell was arrested on a misdemeanor for having a "disorderly house" but never charged.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
“Russell was arrested on a misdemeanor for having a “disorderly house” but never charged.”
I’d love to see the exact wording of that law/code.
This crap will continue until these SWAT goons are held personally liable for the damages they cause.
You know, “disorderly house” ..... broken door frames, setting off flash-bang grenades .... stuff like that.
Even if they are personally sued if the officers have an umbrella liability policy that can cover them.
“Russell was arrested on a misdemeanor for having a “disorderly house” but never charged.”
It’s now a crime to have a dirty house?
Another in Minneapolis’ long line of uniformed thumpers and jaw breakers.
I have been deputized as a US Marshall about 4 times for FALCON(look it up) round ups. You can’t imagine .....
Rounds up=auto correct/ dammit
Ask and you shall receive.. From the cities own web site.
385.170. Disorderly houses.
(a) Definitions.
(1) Disorderly house shall mean a building,
dwelling, establishment, premises or place
where prohibited conduct occurs.
(2) Prohibited conduct shall mean activities in
violation of statutes or ordinances relating to
any of the following:
(a) Gambling;
(b) Prostitution, acts relating thereto, or
indecent conduct;
(c) Sale or possession of controlled
substances; or
(d) Unlawful liquor sales.
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/docs/cityord.pdf
I wonder how many traffic citations will it take to pay the $1,000,000.
I did a search on Falcon, scary stuff.
I usually defend police. There is no defense for this. If someone as a private citizen did this to another, they’d be locked up for years.
That badge is like a get out of jail free card.
“That badge is like a get out of jail free card”
No like about it, it is a get out of jail free card. In fact its a card which means they never even get arrested let alone face jail time.
The problem is none of this comes out of the dirt bag cops pay, they should be liable for a certain percentage. Say 25% to 50%.
Keep your windows locked. Just saying....
Ya think the SWAT’s flash-bang may have been the reason for the disorderly house?
And since when does the government fine people for the state of the inside of their house?
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