When an aunt asked to see a search warrant, she says she was handcuffed.
With a battering ram and sledgehammer in tow, Chicago Police carried out a raid on a South Side home last month. There was just one problem (okay, maybe more than one): The suspect they were looking for hadn't lived at that address in five years, claim the current occupants, who were celebrating a 4-year-old's birthday.
It all went down February 10 during young TJ Boswell's birthday party. His 7-year-old sister, Samari, told WBBM there was little to no warning before police officers entered the home and pointed their guns at party attendees. "They were saying F-words and stuff. It was horrible," she said.
"All I heard was steps of like shoes coming down the stairs hard," added their aunt, Kiqiana Jackson. "Get your fucking hands up," Jackson recalled police saying. Jackson told WBBM she unsuccessfully asked for a search warrant multiple times, and was rewarded by being placed in handcuffs. She eventually saw the warrant, but not before police had trashed the home. A TV was broken as a result of the raid, and TJ's cake ended up on the floor, the family says.
Police were searching for a suspect in possession of ecstasy, though TJ and Samari's mother, Stephanie Bures, told WBBM that person hadn't lived there in years.
"My law firm took 30 seconds to do a person search and came up with [the suspect's] most current address, which is on 83rd street nowhere near the property," the family's lawyer, Al Hofeld Jr., told the outlet.
"I thought they was going to shoot me, and my brother, and everybody else," added Samari.
The family plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit.
Reason reached out to Chicago Police for comment, who responded with the following statement
While we do not comment on pending or proposed litigation, for all criminal investigations, CPD makes every effort to ensure the validity and accuracy of all information that is used to apply for and execute search warrants. Oftentimes this information comes from community sources and despite the vetting of material through a criminal court and the methodical process to authenticate addresses, errors can occur and we take them very seriously. The CPD and City of Chicago has a claims process for any property owner to reimburse for repairs as a result of an accidental search warrant.
This incident highlights a major policing issue, particularly in Chicago, but also around the country. If you type the phrase "Chicago police raid wrong home" into Google, you'll find numerous accounts of police barging into homes and terrorizing the families inside without finding the suspect they were looking for.
It's not even the first time they've been accused of crashing a child's birthday party. Last month, WFLD reported on Chicago Police raiding a South Deering home during a party. Police believed a child was in danger, but they refused to immediately show a search warrant.
These sorts of raids can have consequences. In September, Maryland police in search of a drug dealer raided the wrong home, leading the resident, who thought they were home invaders, to shoot and wound two officers, according to The Washington Post.
In November, a North Carolina SWAT team pointed their guns at a 6-year-old boy with autism and forced him to sit outside in the cold while they searched the home for a robbery suspect who was not there. The child was "terrorized," his mother later said.
It's hard to see how this sort of thing does any good. Police need to stop treating law-abiding citizens, especially children, like dangerous criminals.
#1: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
Uh-huh. But was he dealing from that home? My guess is 'yes', mama knew, and was getting a piece of that action.
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-27 10:01:19 Reply Private Reply
#2: Stoner To: Deckard (#0)
If this bunch of clowns had been in charge of D Day, the Allies would have invaded Arizona.
This bunch of boobs should be demoted to picking up dog shit on the side of the road !!!
I bet before this raid, they were either meter maids, or washed patrol cars. Those tasks would have been way beyond their capabilities !!!
Stoner posted on 2019-03-27 10:11:22 Reply Private Reply
#3: IbJensen To: misterwhite (#1)
IbJensen posted on 2019-03-27 10:36:16 Reply Private Reply
#4: Stoner To: misterwhite (#1)
Even if your " guess " is correct, and I would suspect you are right.
But, this bunch of Barney's did not know he had moved " five " years ago ? And they could not determine his newest address ? ? Or to nab him on the street ?? After 5 years ??
Five years ??? What the hell were they waiting on, ? A new batch at Krispy Kreme ?
That bunch of clowns could not lead a pack of cub scouts. They make the Keystone Cops look professional !!! Bunch of incompetent boobs !!!
PUT THEM ON A JOB OF PICKING UP DOG SHIT
Stoner posted on 2019-03-27 10:36:40 Reply Private Reply
#5: Deckard To: misterwhite, Stoner (#1)
Wow - seriously dude? No proof - just a "hunch".
"My law firm took 30 seconds to do a person search and came up with [the suspect's] most current address, which is on 83rd street nowhere near the property," the family's lawyer, Al Hofeld Jr., told the outlet.
Golly - if a couple of lawyers could get the correct address, why not the cops?
Another family's life turned upside down by ignorant and arrogant cops - a deadly combination.
Deckard posted on 2019-03-27 10:40:44 Reply Private Reply
#6: Stoner To: Deckard (#5)
Because this bunch of cops can't read !!!
Stoner posted on 2019-03-27 11:11:13 Reply Private Reply
#7: misterwhite To: Stoner (#4)
They didn't care where he lived. They cared where he might be found. And if he was dealing out of his old residence, that's where the cops went.
Turns out he wasn't there that day when they arrived. Oh, well.
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-27 14:50:05 Reply Private Reply
#8: misterwhite To: IbJensen (#3)
True. Even if they caught him they'd let him go.
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-27 14:51:36 Reply Private Reply
#9: Stoner To: misterwhite (#7)
If they really believed he was coming and going from that location, they could have grabbed him then.
Glad it turned out without them killing any innocent people, dogs, cats, etc.
Stoner posted on 2019-03-27 16:58:19 Reply Private Reply
#10: misterwhite To: Stoner (#9)
As a drug dealer, he was probably armed. Taking him on the street could have resulted in a shootout with innocents in the crossfire.
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-28 09:13:56 Reply Private Reply
#11: Stoner To: misterwhite (#10)
LOL !!!! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, LOL.
I am not disputing that he was probably armed. However, you obviously think it would be safer to run the risk of a shootout inside a house with a bunch of 4 year old kids running around ! LOL !!!
Great reasoning /sarc !!! So, I guess any excuse will do, LOL !!! Better stick to picking up dog shit on the street, LOL !!! Although that might be beyond their capabilities !!!
Man, talk about effing stupid !!!
Stoner posted on 2019-03-28 09:50:00 Reply Private Reply
#12: misterwhite To: Stoner (#11)
So the cops knew a bunch of kids were running around inside a drug house? You read that somewhere?
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-28 10:41:17 Reply Private Reply
#13: Fred Mertz To: misterwhite (#12)
Fred Mertz posted on 2019-03-28 11:43:05 Reply Private Reply
#14: Stoner To: misterwhite, deckard (#12)
Wellllll. the article stated they were having birthday party for a 4 year old child. It was in the title, in case you missed it. A birthday party for a 4 year old, one would think there would be other kids there. The title even mentioned that your hero's pointed guns at terrified kids.
Good thing none of the kids blew some of those party noisemakers !!! Some of your hero's might have opened fire on those kids ( later claiming they were in fear for their lives of course) and resulting in a blood bath !!! Thank God that did not happen !!!
Further, if those " hero's " were doing their job properly, they would have had the " TARGET " house under observation PRIOR to their big raid. If so, they would have known that the perp was NOT there. Also, they would have known those kids WERE there. And would have known it would be a high risk to raid that place while all those kids were there!! Geniuses they are not !!!
Does someone tie their shoes for them ???
Again, they are not qualified to pick up dog shit !!!
Whitey, you really should read, and learn that 2+2 = 4 !!! LOL !!!!
Stoner posted on 2019-03-28 11:49:36 Reply Private Reply
#15: misterwhite To: Stoner (#14)
Yep. But nowhere does it say the cops knew that.
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-28 12:21:51 Reply Private Reply
#16: Stoner To: Fred Mertz (#13)
Good question Fred.
Its either a hyper active imagination being employed during an overzealous defense of "hero" cops, or its a result of the copious consumption of mind altering substances !! LOL
I am just glad they did not open fire and kill a bunch of little kids ! Of course if that would have happened, Whitey would still defend the cops !!!
Stoner posted on 2019-03-28 12:24:10 Reply Private Reply
#17: Fred Mertz To: Stoner (#16)
Fred Mertz posted on 2019-03-28 12:28:46 Reply Private Reply
#18: Stoner To: misterwhite (#15)
Hey look dumb ass. Yes, it did not say they knew. But, if they were intelligent enough to be able to breathe, their situational awareness should have told them. If they are raiding places without doing a decent recon, they are dumber than you are !!!
Geeeeesh, man wake up & get a fucking clue !!!
Stoner posted on 2019-03-28 12:31:08 Reply Private Reply
#19: misterwhite To: Stoner (#18)
Reconnaissance-in-force (RIF) is a type of military operation or military tactics used specifically to probe an enemy's disposition. By mounting an offensive with considerable (but not decisive) force, the commander hopes to elicit a strong reaction by the enemy that reveals its own strength, deployment, and other tactical data. The RIF commander retains the option to fall back with the data or expand the conflict into a full engagement.
misterwhite posted on 2019-03-28 15:55:28 Reply Private Reply