Posted on 05/16/2003 2:55:01 PM PDT by 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.
Alot of this btw is crap. Many times, you can quietly tail somebody out of their residence, detain them, then do the search. It is not quite as glamorous as flash grenades and battering rams though.
Teachers, lawyers, judges, and other police officers may have a little sticker on their window (car or kitchen) which identifies them as supporters of the police state. That could explain why they're residences aren't busted into by the locals wearing badges.
Question to you: Whatever happened to the pursuit of happiness? And if you're so inclined to have the State take that away, hows-a-bout we take away your right to life and liberty while we're at it?
Case Criteria – Medical Examiners/Coroner Cases
To be reported to DAWN, a case must involve a decedent between the ages of 6 and 97 and must meet all of the following criteria:
The death was drug-induced (i.e., one or more drugs directly caused the death) or drug-related (i.e., drug abuse was a contributing factor in the death);
The death was caused by or related to drug abuse—that is, the use of an illegal drug or the nonmedical use of a legal drug; and
The decedent used the substance due to dependence, to commit suicide, or to achieve psychic effects.Nonmedical uses of legal drugs include the use of prescription drugs in a manner inconsistent with acceptable medical practice, or the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs contrary to approved labeling or indications for specific physiological conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease).
Deaths involving the following circumstances are not reportable to DAWN:
Drug abuse that is unrelated to the death (e.g., a history of drug abuse when no drugs were detected in the decedent’s system);
Accidental ingestion or inhalation of a substance with no intent to abuse it;
Adverse reactions to prescription or OTC medications taken as prescribed or labeled;
Noncompliance cases in which an individual took less or accidentally took more medication than prescribed or directed by label instructions; and
Drug consumption to conceal substances from law enforcement and avoid arrest.These criteria mean that DAWN does not include any deaths in which the decedent had not personally used a drug. For example, an individual who dies in a drive-by shooting associated with drug-related activity or a pedestrian who is struck and killed by a driver under the influence of methamphetamine might be considered “drug-related deaths” in terms of broader policy issues. However, those cases are not reportable to DAWN unless the decedents themselves had been abusing a reportable substance at the time of their deaths. DAWN also excludes deaths by homicide.
This woman died so that major drug companies could remain profitable along certain mood altering product lines. (I don't think this includes Viagra)
Cuba is still communist 'cause growing weed there creates stuff that is near fatal to consumers. The State steps in to protect us again.
I see you've been taking your Clinton lessons! An innocent person dies, and "there's no major abuse by officers here at all." No controlling legal authority. I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. The president did not rape Mrs. Brodderick. These facts, though regrettable, do not rise to the level of impeachment. There's no major abuse here at all.
And you say this because the level of drug-induced deaths back when drugs were legal was ... ? And the number of ODs that happened when drugs were pure and didn't have to pass through the criminal element was ... ? And the number of criminal drug related deaths when drugs were legal was ... ?
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