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http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_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."
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_07-70/TOP
Police raid wrong home
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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."
