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Bridgeburner
Not spiritual at all.




Registered: 09/16/06
Posts: 20,010
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Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA]
#7662470 - 11/21/07 11:36 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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http://www.masslive.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/base/national-95/1195662842100320.xml&storylist=national
The family of a 92-year-old woman fatally shot during a botched drug raid has filed a lawsuit against the city and police on the first anniversary of the killing.
The State Court lawsuit was filed Wednesday by a niece of Kathryn Johnston, accusing them of racketeering, civil rights violations, assault, false imprisonment and negligence.
The suit targets the city, Police Chief Richard Pennington and five current and former police officers. The family is seeking unspecified damages.
Hezekiah Sistrunk Jr., an attorney for the niece, Sarah Dozier, said they had attempted to talk to the city about a settlement.
"That has been unsuccessful. That is why we are here today," he said at a news conference.
Plainclothes narcotics officers burst into Johnston's home Nov. 21, 2006, using a no-knock warrant. Johnston was killed during the raid in a hail of nearly 40 police gunshots.
Prosecutors said the officers obtained the warrant by falsely telling a judge that an informant confirmed drug dealing at the home. The informant later told federal investigators he was told by police to concoct the tale.
Prosecutors also said that one of the police officers planted three bags of marijuana in Johnston's home as part of a cover-up after no drugs were found.
The suit accuses officers who raided the home of violating Johnston's constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures and the use of unreasonable and excessive deadly force. It cites witness tampering in its racketeering accusation.
Prosecutors charged three officers involved in the raid. Two of the officers, Jason R. Smith and Gregg Junnier, pleaded guilty to state manslaughter and federal civil rights charges. They have left the police force. A judge Tuesday ordered the two to turn themselves in by Dec. 3. No sentencing date has been set.
A third officer, Arthur Tesler, who is on administrative leave, faces charges of violating the oath of a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process. His attorney has said Tesler expects to go to trial.
All three are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
"I am thankful my aunt's innocence has been proven," Dozier said in a statement read to reporters. "I am also deeply saddened that the city of Atlanta has refused to admit responsibility for unconstitutional practices."
Dozier was not present at the news conference.
Beverly Isom, a spokeswoman for Mayor Shirley Franklin, declined to comment on the suit, referring calls to an attorney for the city. The attorney, Jerry De Loach, declined to comment, saying the city had yet to be served with the lawsuit and wanted to review it before responding.
Officer Ronald Campbell, a spokesman for Atlanta police, said, "We are unable to comment on anything because of the legalities of it."
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openfire
Stranger

Registered: 10/23/05
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: Bridgeburner]
#7662969 - 11/21/07 01:11 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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shitty. maybe they wont be such dicks here in altanta now.
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nepalnt21
12tnlapen



Registered: 09/14/06
Posts: 114
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: openfire]
#7663023 - 11/21/07 01:23 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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wow that is DRIPPING with incompetence. thats one of the worst things ive read in ahwile.
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shroom_ninja
Stranger



Registered: 11/03/07
Posts: 150
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: nepalnt21]
#7663275 - 11/21/07 02:28 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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copy that
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wilshire
free radical


Registered: 05/11/05
Posts: 2,421
Loc: SE PA
Last seen: 14 years, 3 days
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: Bridgeburner]
#7663596 - 11/21/07 03:54 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Plainclothes narcotics officers burst into Johnston's home Nov. 21, 2006, using a no-knock warrant. Johnston was killed during the raid in a hail of nearly 40 police gunshots.
Prosecutors said the officers obtained the warrant by falsely telling a judge that an informant confirmed drug dealing at the home. The informant later told federal investigators he was told by police to concoct the tale.
Atlanta Cops Plead to Manslaughter in Botched Drug Raid
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SuperD
Cacti junky



Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 6,648
Loc: The bridgesii bridge
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: wilshire]
#7663611 - 11/21/07 03:56 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
wilshire said: Plainclothes narcotics officers burst into Johnston's home Nov. 21, 2006, using a no-knock warrant. Johnston was killed during the raid in a hail of nearly 40 police gunshots.
Prosecutors said the officers obtained the warrant by falsely telling a judge that an informant confirmed drug dealing at the home. The informant later told federal investigators he was told by police to concoct the tale.
Atlanta Cops Plead to Manslaughter in Botched Drug Raid
This article makes me nauseated. And to think it happened in the country I live in is very disturbing.
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   D Manoa said: I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin. Looking for Rauhocereus riosaniensis seeds or live specimen(s), me if you have any for trade
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Jack Albertson
bismillah rahmani rahim



Registered: 04/14/06
Posts: 10,065
Loc: SOLARIS
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: SuperD]
#7664643 - 11/21/07 07:55 PM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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yeah it was all over the news here when it happened. they say the old lady opened fire on the cops and died in the shoot out. Those fucking cops lied and said that they purchased drugs there earlier in the day. I think they were there to rob that old lady and it went bad.
-------------------- Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say "I think," "I am," but quotes some saint or sage. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose.Man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time TRANSCEND
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Yrat
Hello

Registered: 11/08/07
Posts: 2,312
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: Bridgeburner]
#7665280 - 11/22/07 12:04 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Prosecutors also said that one of the police officers planted three bags of marijuana in Johnston's home as part of a cover-up after no drugs were found.
it makes me sick that we live in such "safe" environment today... i mean, how could things be any worse than that?? These people we pay to protect us make horrible mistakes and try to cover them up after the fact? 90 yrs old???
-------------------- "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root." -Henry David Thoreau Strike The Root
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



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Re: Botched drug raid shooting prompts suit [ATLANTA] [Re: Jack Albertson]
#7665698 - 11/22/07 03:41 AM (16 years, 2 months ago) |
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> I think they were there to rob that old lady and it went bad.
Nah, cops have no reason to rob old ladies... They got lazy, believed an informant without checking, killed a lady by accident, and then tried to cover there mistake by planting evidence.
That part I find really frightening is that they had drugs with them ready to use as evidence against somebody. How many of those people in court that claimed the cops planted the drugs on them have been telling the truth?
I'm usually against lawsuits arising from accidents, but I support the family in this case. I hope they go after the individuals rather than the tax funded police department.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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