Police Storm Wrong Apartment, Resident Dies of Heart Attack

WABC News NYC ^ | May 16, 2003 | Art McFarland

[Unknown Freeper]

(Harlem-WABC, May 16, 2003) — Police smashed down an apartment door and used a flash grenade in their search for a potentially dangerous suspect. But it was the wrong apartment, and the woman who lived inside is now dead after suffering a heart attack.

Police smashed down an apartment door and used a flash grenade in their search for a potentially dangerous suspect. But it was the wrong apartment, and the woman who lived inside is now dead after suffering a heart attack.

What happened at 310 W. 143rd Street was meant to be the end result of a drug investigation based on confidential information from a police informant. But it is now among the most tragic errors of the NYPD.

Lucille Ross, Building Resident: "She was such a lovely person. If something was to happen with her like this, I want to know why."

The search warrant was apparently issued for apartment 6F in the multi-unit building. It was the home of Alberta Spruill.

Today Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said it was based on what investigators thought was reliable information. But it all turned out to be a terrible mistake.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly: "Entry was made by officers from our Emergency Services Unit who used a flash grenade during that entry. Once inside the officers found the occupant, a 57-year-old woman, identified as Alberta Spruill. She was briefly handcuffed while police conducted a cursory search of the apartment. The patrol captain then entered, and saw that the apartment did not match the description given by the informant, and immediately ordered that the handcuffs be removed."

The commissioner said Ms. Spruill soon told officers she had a heart condition, and then complained of chest pains. EMS was called to the scene and administered aid. But Ms. Spruill died a short time later at Harlem Hospital.

Commissioner Ray Kelly: "On behalf of the entire New York City Police Department, I want to offer my condolences and sympathy to the family of Alberta Spruill. I also want to offer my apology. This is indeed a profound tragedy."

Calvin Alston, Building Resident: "We're all just devestated. Really devestated. Because this is a woman that got up and went to church every day ... went to work every day. And we're all just devestated that this would happen to someone like this."

Police Commissioner Kelly did say a "flash grenade" was used at apartment 6F before officers entered. It may be the use of that flash grenade broke procedure. The ESU lieutenant who used it is now on administrative leave pending the investigation. Those grenades have been used 85 times this year.

And NYPD tells us only four mistakes out of 1,900 search warrants have been made this year. The investigation of this tragedy continues.

[TLBSHOW]

How you come to that conclusion just shows that you are not able to read.

[Amelia]

No spinning, I said Lots do, not most. Since lots do and they are cops they are hypocrites.

I said most don't, and you told me to get my head out of the sand. You're backpedaling.

So, tell me how you know that "Lots do"?

[Arpege92]

From reading some of your responses to this tragic incident, I ask that none of you make a full judgement until all of the facts come out. I am somewhat close to a person who is involved in this......please.

[harrowup]

...I was arguing a side topic

Which has nothing to do with the despicable actions of a bunch of licensed goons that resulted in the death of an innocent lady.

[ActionNewsBill]

I think this device is used in crowd control and no way this would be used in crowds if it was typically a killer.

Throwing one of these into an outdoor crowd is completely different thas throwing it into an enclosed apartment.

But like you said, it's all her fault for being there and being old.

[TLBSHOW]

You don't care so stop pretending, just as Bush does not care to stop drugs in this country. Because he can but won't.

[Amelia]

Which has nothing to do with the despicable actions of a bunch of licensed goons that resulted in the death of an innocent lady.

I guess this is the first thread you've ever seen on FR that's taken a tangent? Get over it.

[Amelia]

You don't care so stop pretending, just as Bush does not care to stop drugs in this country. Because he can but won't.

Let's see, I proved you were backpedaling. You either can't or won't back up your assertions, so now you're accusing me of lying, and blaming the whole problem on the President?

Classic, TLB, simply classic.

[harrowup]

Sorry Tlb, but this has nothing to do with the death of this lady. Moral equivalence is a suitable topic that is a legitimate source of angst for conservative and liberal and libertarian alike...but the caguy and amelia and howlin want to make it a war on drugs issue and it isn't...this is about Police Abuse

[justshe]

To: Amelia

You don't care so stop pretending, just as Bush does not care to stop drugs in this country. Because he can but won't.


206 posted on 05/16/2003 6:05 PM PDT by TLBSHOW

---

Is there ANY problem in this country you don't blame on President Bush?

[Contra]

They need to wait for the autopsy, maybe her heart attack was caused by cocaine usage, like with Len Bias. Things are not always as they seem. Some people will do anything just to get a multi-million dollar lawsuit going against the police.

[harrowup]

I guess this is the first thread you've ever seen on FR that's taken a tangent?

No, I've seen gangs like yours change direction when it suits you for years now. Different names, same attitude.

Get over it.

Sit.

[Howlin]

So, Bush is now PRO DRUGS? Do I have that right?

[headsonpikes]

"...maybe her heart attack was caused by cocaine usage..."

There ya go, Clenched A, you've got another supporter.

The old bag probably set herself up for insurance benefits, right.

You Koolaid addicts are the biggest threat to the American Republic that there is; bigger than the neutered Commies, bigger than the Arab nutbars - your sordid intellectual habits demean us all, and degrade the quality of public discourse

Put down that Koolaid that get right with G-d, is my advice.

[rwfromkansas]

Very tragic.

The lady must have had an extreme heart condition for a flash to give her a heart attack though...wow. I am glad she was a Christian.

Hopefully the cops will bother to do some more research in the future prior to entering a home.......

[justshe]

That's how I read it.......and it is a 'two faced law'.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/913012/posts?page=85#85

[headsonpikes]

"Put down that Koolaid and get right with G-d."

Sorry.

[rwfromkansas]

Stats please?

Besides, "everybody does it" is not a logical defense. Just because Bill Clinton sold out his country does not mean it is okay for us to do that.

[Amelia]

Moral equivalence is a suitable topic that is a legitimate source of angst for conservative and liberal and libertarian alike...but the caguy and amelia and howlin want to make it a war on drugs issue and it isn't...this is about Police Abuse

HU, so kind of you to ping me to where you were talking about me. /sarcasm

Actually I didn't want to make it a war on drugs issue. I wanted TLBSHOW to either back up or retract his assertion that most policemen, lawyers, judges, and teachers use drugs, mainly because I fit one of those categories myself, and I know it's not true, at least where I live.

It's not about me trying to make a war of it, it's about other people making outrageous accusations they can't or won't back up - surely even YOU can appreciate THAT?