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.

[A CA Guy]

So the logic is that it happens so much according to LEOS that we as a nation that should just GO-WITH-IT!

That would only vastly grow addicts and make a worse problem. In places where they have tried that, the results I've read of haven't been good.

You have to keep fighting the drug issue as we are. Letting it go is like letting rape go everywhere because it is a waste of time trying to stop it too.
Crime is always going to be there and enforcement officers are there to retard it to the degree they can.

I think they do a real good job for what they have to work with.

[harrowup]

... we wait for ALL the facts to become known.

Fact I...57 year old lady killed while police were going after a "potentially dangerous felon" (aka, street pusher/enforcer) and entered the wrong apartment without knocking, then blowing said lady's socks off with a flash-bang and then handcuffing her.

Fact II...Attorneys for WhoreHay Jones owner of the Chatanooga ChooChoos MLB franchise and 72 Kentucky Fried Chicken Joints are arranging for his appearance before a federal magistrate in order to accept his agreement to answer questions about his ownership of the 62 thousand gallon/day ecstasy lab under the bullpen, and the discovery of $48 million dollars in his Citation next to FedEx in Memphis.

Police reported that they went to his estate in Cabo san Lucas on Tuesday but were kept out by a strong gate, six big mean dogs and twelve guys with Uzi's....

Yep, there is nothing like a SWAT team when you need em...2 million folks in jail...80% for dealing drugs on the street and ...not one, not one damned son of a bitch from Westchester County who controls the market.

**************************************
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[TLBSHOW]

Sorry I missed your post, but father duty called.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/857630/posts?page=1,250


Either we wage the war right or don't. but please don't be hypocrites.

Fact is the war is lost if this is how its played.

[budwiesest]

You should change your handle, you're an embarrassment to CA, Guy.

[Amelia]

All I wish is that everyone here could express some measure of compassion for the victim and demonstrate some outrage at the police brutality.

I'm very sorry for the victim. I've read enough one-sided media reports to give the police a little leeway until all the facts are in.

For all we (or me, anyway) know, this is one of those neighborhoods that is being terrorized by drug lords and gangs, and the neighbors would have been very happy if the right person had been captured.

Either way, a horrible tragedy for this woman and her family.

[TLBSHOW]

not one, not one damned son of a bitch from Westchester County who controls the market.


There you go again with facts.....the fact is drugs are controled by the business-men in towns all across America.

[harrowup]

I'm disappointed, Harrowup. I really thought you'd have been able to see the logical inconsistencies in his posts.

I'm disgusted, Amelia. You both lost the argument...and your compassion for the victim is less than credible.

[A CA Guy]

There is an issue of how they got a wrong address and burst into the wrong place. There you are talking potentially about careers of someone or a group ending.

The idea though that what they did causes death is not typical. This woman had some problems, some condition that had her in poor health, because almost none die like she did under similar conditions. That is why they use that device.

They should tack additional stuff on the criminals that they were after, they should find out how this went wrong and hold them responsible, but you can't hold enforcement up on murder charges while in the course of doing their duty.
There was no intent to harm that woman I am sure.
If she was almost any other 57 year old in better health, she would have only been scared with a broken door.

Regarding her there must have been a pre-existing condition. In any case, that is a loss.

[Amelia]

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

From the article:

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....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."

Apparently the issuance of the warrant did not violate the Constitution, in that someone seems to have sworn there was probable cause, and described the area to be searched.

Someone might be liable for perjury now, or someone might have made an error, typographical or otherwise....not that any of that helps this poor woman.

[A CA Guy]

I know and it pisses the pro-illegal-drug forces here bonkers when I flash the light on it like that.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You don't have a clue what *real* cops on the street think. I told you what's up, if you refuse to believe it, fine.

[Chemist_Geek]

Do you think that there is any way to eliminate the use of presently-illegal drugs in this country which would be effective and yet consistent with the Constitution of the United States?

The police got a search warrant in this case. (which, BTW, happens to be the Constituitional procedure...) Why don't the druggie-enablers here on FR damn the judge, too, for issuing the warrant?

I do believe that quiet surveillance of this informant's address information would have cleared things up... I do wonder why the police were in such a hurry to serve the search warrant.

[A CA Guy]

Change the law how to what end exactly?
For instance to say we have no law or make illegal use legal now would be evil since you have then people using without fear of any law out of control killing themselves and others.

In brief, explain the substance of your comment. If it leads to what today would be considered breaking the law, I bet most would consider that advocating illegal drug usage.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"It is used to break up crowds, if it were considered excessive or is considered so now, it would be removed as a tool."

Not really. CP gas causes asthma patients to go into attack, and CP hasn't been removed from the market. These tools come with warning about distances to people; yet, cops use them against manufacturer’s safety warnings. Ever see the cops shoot pepper spray directly into the face of protestors? That is strictly against safety warnings.

[Chemist_Geek]

You are not a drug dealer but drug pushers deserve this:

That's too good for them.

[A CA Guy]

But the stuff he sings of kills his own Spirit and hurts all around them.

[A CA Guy]

I don't like when accidental deaths happen at any time in the course of enfocement of law or elsewhere.

Here in CA we do have tobacco restrictions because of the dense population in public and it's been alright so far.

[A CA Guy]

Oh, we believe you are SO insulted. Right?

All I said there as you know is the device isn't made to take life, so I figure she was in poor health already.

I take that back, logical deduction might actually be very insulting to you...Sorry

I did love the dramatic rant, though baseless. Thanks for the laughs.

[Chemist_Geek]

Apparently the issuance of the warrant did not violate the Constitution, in that someone seems to have sworn there was probable cause, and described the area to be searched.

Someone might be liable for perjury now, or someone might have made an error, typographical or otherwise....not that any of that helps this poor woman.

Druggie-enablers: But-but-but-but-but it must be unConstituitional! It was a warrant for searching for drugs! It has to be unConstitutional somehow! Never mind the sworn affidavit and judicial review, it's unConstituitional!

Going after the informant for perjury, and instituiting further review and surveillance, would be a good idea for the future. As you say, though, it doesn't help that poor woman.

[TLBSHOW]

The real truth stings!

drug deaths

tobacco 400,000 a year or more
alcohol 100,000 a year or more with drunk drivers
pharmaceuticals 6,000 a year or more

the biggest drug dealer is the corner store (seller) and the govt (taxer)

do you have the stats on pot deaths or say cocaine or herion?