OCR Text |
Show HERALD DAILY Wednesday. December 19, 2007 A9 SWAT team's mistake leads to terror for Minneapolis family Gregg Aaamot and Steve Karnowski they are too high or too tow. He said no dependable estimates exist. "Going to the wrong home is an ex- -' treme rarity," said Mark Robbins, a law enforcement professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. "It's just unfortunate that when it does, it often ends up in violent and even tragic incidents." In the Minneapolis case, the nature of the tip and precisely what police were looking for were not disclosed; ian Cato Institute said: "Because of they have not released the search on warrant. And it was not clear how shoddy police work, informants, and other problems, each far off the mark the informant was in year hundreds of raids are conducted supplying the address. No charges were brought against on the wrong addresses, bringing unnecessary terror and frightening con- Khang, a laid-of- f machine operator north Minwho lives in crime-ridde- n frontation to people never suspected of a crime." neapolis. Khang used the shotgun for Gnagey disputed the reliability of hunting, said his brother, Dao Khang. the research behind those figures, and In Minnesota, no license is required to said it is impossible to know whether own a shotgun. told a judge that an informant had confirmed drug dealing there. The scandal led to a shake-u- p in the department, two officers pleaded guilty to manslaughter and civil rights charges, and the city faces at least two lawsuits. Reliable figures on the frequency of erroneous raids are hard to come by. Federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, said they do not keep track. A study last year by the libertar- while an investigation takes place to figure out what went wrong. Such mistakes are a fact of police THE ASSOCIATED PRESS work, some experts said. "Does going to the wrong address With her six kids and husband tucked into bed, Yee Moua was watch- that had raided the wrong address happen from time to time? Yes," said John Gnagey, executive direcbecause of bad information from an ing TV in her living room just after tor of the National Tactical Officers informant a mistake that some midnight when she heard voices faint at first, then louder. Then came Association in Doy lest own, Pa. "Do critics say happens all too frequently the sound of a window shattering. around the country and gets innocent you corroborate as best you can the Moua bolted upstairs, where her information the informant gives you? people killed. "I have six kids, and only one mishusband, Vang Khang, grabbed his Absolutely. But still from time to time mistakes are made." shotgun from a closet, knelt and fired take almost took my kids' life," said One of the biggest botched raids in a warning shot through his doorway Moua, 29. "We will never forget this." recent years happened in Atlanta in as he heard footsteps coming up the No one was hurt in the raid Sunstairs. He let loose with two more 2006, when police killed a day, conducted by a task force that blasts. Twenty-twwoman in a hail of nearly 40 bullets bullets were fired fights drugs and gangs, though two after she fired a shot at what she back at him, by the family's count. police officers were hit by the shotThen things suddenly became clear. gun blasts and narrowly escaped thought were intruders. Police had "It's the police! Police!" his sons gone to her house on a drug raid, but injury because they were wearing no drugs were found. yelled. bulletproof vests. Prosecutors said that in obtaining a Police apologized to the family and Khang, a Hmong immigrant with a search warrant, Atlanta police falsely shaky command of English, set down placed the seven officers on leave his gun, raised his hands and was soon on the ground, an officer's boot on his neck. The gunmen, it turned out, were members of a police SWAT team over-relian- o LADIES' SHOE GIFT IDEAS! MUST-HAV- E Crocs "Mammoth" Sizes 6-- 1 OM. 39.99. Colors vary by store. Crocs "Alice" In black, ruby or chocolate. Sizes 1 OM. 34.99. crocs 6-- ,:. i :.. Sizes In brown cr black. Y.'hole sizes 1. 39.C0. 5-- 1 , i' "Enccre Chiii" III Sizes P-- L CT Sizes i tluik ridiuTai. 6-- 1 Ci.i. 89.00. "X. ; Dillaid's The Style of Christmas. 6WWhASE rjfet $SAR1tftjftCHAS WIlTnOT IfJCAE ASEYOUR revoent 18 (X CHoer to enter, vow wnert pronionwu wwiwnw k1'""-O'vukki oi tieoerw eiecmc epirai wjrvwmwi, i CHANCES ' rj ii OT r 'i WINNING. Dtllofd'i VoorselP Sweepstakes i.wwm c w 'Induipe it ufaiect to Offtctf iww,rinw, hi www n, Pulesposied at dillards.com iwinm end tparticipanna nun,iw. ifmMtntrium- tor Selection may vary by store. Not all styles or colors are available at all stores. end available by mailing SASE to. Ddlefd't 'Indulge VoutwJr Rules, PMI Station. PO Box 750, Southbury. iu ewiie iictito. oponsor nwriiuw w oimpiMiiB aptew. uooeoi wnnmng umfimntw nw miwui CT aponeor. uc Must be legal US money - Amari 0, Shop Monday-Frida- y Saturday 8-- and Sunday 10-- 9 at all Dillard's locations. In Salt Lake City at Fashion Place and South Towne Center. In Ogden, at Newgate Mall. In Logan, at Cache Valley Mall. In Provo, at Provo Towne Centre. Credit Dillard's We welcome your Card, The American Express Card, Diners Club International, Mastercard Visa and The Discover Card. . 9-1- 10 i |