Posted on 06/10/2010 8:16:50 PM PDT by Chet 99
PEARL, Miss. --
A Pearl family said Thursday that they're suing local law enforcement for holding them at gunpoint in their own home.
Officers said it was an honest mistake.
"As I walked out the front door, I was making a phone call and I saw the unmarked Navigator truck pull up into my yard and fly open the doors," Brett Gerhart said. "All they did was say, 'Get down.'"
The 21-year-old described what he said happened Monday night. He claims it was a case of mistaken identity by police.
"I ran inside to tell my family, 'They got guns. They got guns,' but by the time I locked the door, they were kicking it down," he said.
Gerhart's father, Joey, said he was in a back room with his grandchild when he heard his wife say, 'They're trying to shoot Brett!'"
"He laid me on the ground in front of my dad and my mom who was holding my niece," Gerhart said. "He put the gun to my head and told me if I moved, it'd be the last time I moved."
Joey Gerhart said he saw guns before he realized the armed people in his house were police officers. "I jumped over him and met them in the kitchen and met a pistol," he said. "I moved my head away from it and realized they had 'Police' on their shirts, and that's when I turned to holler for him, but he was already on the ground outside."
Lt. Butch Townsend, of the Pearl Police Department, explained the situation.
"They went to where they perceived the threat to be, (and) unfortunately that's not where the threat was," he said.
He said the officers were supposed to be two doors down, saving an informant in danger.
Townsend said it's the team leader's job to confirm the address.
"He did that. He told them what address we were working on, but when this informant's life became in danger, things took on a whole different aura," he said. Townsend said his department is taking responsibility for the mistake.
"I just don't understand how they can pick my house instead of the house they were in," Joey Gerhart said. "It's ridiculous. It still makes me nervous just talking about it."
The family said the silver lining is that no one was seriously injured, but they still want justice.
Hope they win.
I think they should sue.
This family was terrified and someone could have been killed.
Officer's safety, make sure we make it home safe tonight, blah, blah, blah.
What a bunch of fu*k ups. They give real police a bad name.
Haven’t they ever heard of street address maps?
“Hope they win.”
Highly doubtful...honest mistake...so sorry...dont send a bill for the door or we’ll be back...
Why does this never happen at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave?
Oops, bet this posts shows up on the radar somewhere.
You can report me at: flag@wh.gov
I just did
I wonder what happened to the informant...I mean they thought his life was in danger.
Thank you my friend (McLameism). I was getting tired of working.
Click the link to be added to the "Whoops. Sorry, citizen. We thought you were someone else" PING list.
I hope they win and take those thugs for all they have.
On botched raids they need to be able to get all the officers involved, fired, and be able to sue them all personally as to not put the taxpayers on the line. If the officers who have supposedly more training than everyone else, f@@k up, it’s personally their asses AND assets on the line.
Enough of this crap already. We’re not a soviet effing police state.
just an honest mistake, that's all. :sarc
Every article you see in these two pictures can be purchased online, army surplus stores, or tactical supply stores. Please tell me WHY I should believe anybody kicking my door in after dark, or jumping from a black SUV with guns yelling “police”? Why shouldn’t I be able to defend myself. Real police can show up in uniform, in daylight with plenty of backup and do what they have to do. Too many mistakes are being made by the “ninjas”, how many more have to die before we stop this?
When I make an honest mistake I pay.
When you make an honest mistake, lives are at risk, as are civil liberties.
You pay.
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