Cops raid wrong apartment. Hoping fruit basket will prevent litigation

Doglips · 04-04-2004, 04:41 PM

WRONG-APT. RAIDERS IN SORRY STATE

By GEORGETT ROBERTS and CYNTHIA R. FAGEN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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April 4, 2004 -- Red-faced cops who busted into the wrong Brooklyn apartment looking for a drug dealer and instead wound up terrorizing an elderly man and his wife are trying to make up for their blunder in time for the Jewish holiday.
"They sent me a big basket of fruit for Passover. They can't stop apologizing," said Martin Goldberg, 84, who still bears the cut across his forehead he suffered during the drug raid in the Sheepshead Nostrand Houses.

Wednesday's mix-up occurred after cops got a tip from a confidential informant that a man was selling drugs at the housing project where Goldberg and his wife, Leona, 82, live, but due to an error in paperwork raided the wrong building.

To atone for their mistake, cops from the 65th Precinct have repainted the hallway and door of the couple's apartment and have promised to clean up the mess.

In addition, cops have sent Goldberg's wife an orchid and a get-well card as she recuperates in Beth Israel Hospital of Brooklyn from heart pain she suffered during the ordeal.

"It was terrible . . . It was the most frightening experience of my life . . . I thought it was a terrorist attack," Leona said.

But even with all the hearts and flowers, it will probably not stop the couple from suing the city.

Sniper[MI] · 04-04-2004, 04:51 PM

Chit happens, they raided the wrong place and are seeing to the repairs etc... I do think they should also come up with any medical expense etc...incurred during the raid.

04-04-2004, 05:34 PM

Dennis · 04-04-2004, 06:46 PM

The city needs to Pay and pay big.
The cops need to pay and pay big and someone in the police department needs to be publicly fired and humiliated in front of the whole department.
That is the only thing that is ever going to help prevent another situation like that.
it will make the cops think more about what they are doing and WHY they are doing it!
Their arrogance needs to be broken.
and the unprofessionals need to be run off.

To arrest the wrong person on a false warrent should be concidered one of the highest crimes that can be committed.
It is one of the worst things that can happen

Lord Shrike · 04-04-2004, 08:26 PM

I agree cops need to start being held accountable for these f ups. While were at it lets stop this ridiculous war on drugs that turns our neighborhoods into battlefeilds and stops no one from taking drugs.

oneastrix · 04-04-2004, 09:10 PM

We are held accountable.

Lord Shrike · 04-04-2004, 09:50 PM

Not from what I can tell.

oneastrix · 04-04-2004, 11:29 PM

Explain.....and don't bore me with BS that you haven't personally experienced.

oneastrix · 04-04-2004, 11:36 PM

Tell me what to do about drugs. But tell me from the level of a street cop, not what the gov't needs to do. Then I will go out there every day and try to apply your tactics. We'll see how it works.

Despoiler · 04-05-2004, 01:06 AM

I wonder what would have happened if the homeowner were armed and he shot a police officer? Would he have been charged? What if the police had shot the homeowners, what would happen to him.

There was a similar case in Stockton, ca where a swat team entered the wrong house and ended up shooting a little kid(7or 8 yrs old). As for the officer whom shot the child I am sure it is something he will live with for ever, but I don’t know if or what legal action was taken against him.

oneastrix · 04-05-2004, 08:08 AM

Let me do some research on that AllenT and I can probably come up with an answer for you. But yes, we are held liable. It can include a prison sentence as well.

Shaun · 04-05-2004, 09:51 AM

we had the same case here and a city had to had over millions because they killed the male half of the household who thought it was a home invasion and had grabbed his shotgun. The homeowner was in the rtight for his defending the home and the PD returned fire -- turns out they missed the house by one door because they didn't take the investigating officer to very the right house.

in this case and the one I mentioned it should be standard to hand over ownership of the city for a mistake like this.

Lord Shrike · 04-05-2004, 12:24 PM

I know of a case here in Waukesha wear the wrong house was raided and a 50 year mother was grabbed thrown to the ground and left handcuffed face first in the snow. I know of another incident where Milwaukee County Sherrifs raided a West Milwaukee home because after some one complained about alot of cars infront of the house they found a joint remnant. There was high car traffic because there was 3 teenagers living in the home. This evedently was justification for a full no knock swat team style raid. As the police made there way through the house throwing family memebers to the floor one officer burst into the room of the teenage daughter. Obviously terrifed she spins around and screams. She is holding a hairbrush which somehow must have resembled a weapon to the officer who promptly shot her. She lived but her leg was permantly damged ending a promising danceing career. You would probably call this raid justified since one of the teenage sons did in fact possess a whole joint. Finally a little over a year ago Milwaukee PD thought it was nessicary to engage in a full out no knock swat team raid of a hispanic grocery store. They detained everyone customers and employees alike and had them shoved face first on the floor including several pregnant women. What were they looking for you ask? Was it crack?...no, marijuana...nope try again....heroin?....ehhhhh nope they were there for penicilin. Thats right the store was selling antibiotics without proper liscening so instead of mailing a warning or haveing a state official issue them a ticket they decided it was better to terroize everyone in the store. In the first case no officer was fired or disaplined in any way none of them are faceing criminal charges. Legal action against the city of Waukesha is still pending. However that doesn't punish the LEO's only the taxpayers. In the second case no officer was fired, disiplined or charged. Milwaukee County agreed to a settlement of $500,000 to the injured girl. Again punishing the taxpayers. In the last case no officer was fired displined or charged. Legal action is pending so the tax payer can suffer yet even more. You may know of some cases where cops are held accountable for there f ups but I know of none. I have never seen it. If your lucky they apologize but they usually don't even do that at the Cities Lawyers request. What should you do about drugs as a street cop. Nothing in my opinoin. Unless they are directly threating someone else saftey through there actions its none of your buisness as far as I am concerned.

oneastrix · 04-05-2004, 01:34 PM

What should you do about drugs as a street cop. Nothing in my opinoin. Unless they are directly threating someone else saftey through there actions its none of your buisness as far as I am concerned.

Hmm...interesting outlook. But hey, I asked.

Dennis · 04-05-2004, 04:41 PM

1* You are a good guy a reasonable man I have known you from your posts for a long time now.
I dont concider you to be the average Chit head.
I know you hold your profession in the highest esteem, you work hard at being a professional.
We can see that in the way you think.
Please understand that there are many many Law Enforcement Officers
that are fair minded guys that do not take advantage of their positions of power.
And there are many that do.
They may not do it every time. but it happens enough that we see, experience and know about such incidents.
I dont know an easy solution to the lack of professionalism problem that pervades so many departments in these times.
The patriot act and other new legislation opens up many more opportunities for police officers to display un professional conduct.

This is what has everyone so troubled.
I am refereshed that you have an interest in anothers point of view of this situation.
Perhaps we can IM and discuss it further?

Rave · 04-05-2004, 08:51 PM

The tax payer is still paying,
and the band is still playing,
and it just gets better every day.

04-05-2004, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lord Shrike
Not from what I can tell.

sometimes it's even justified

:target:

Shaun · 04-05-2004, 11:58 PM

Dennis I agree Matt is a really good guy and from what I know of him and how well he does his job he is one !!!! fine cop -- I would have been proud to have him as a partner anyday.

Lord Shrike · 04-06-2004, 11:17 AM

No ones gunnin on 1* I get the same vibe from him as the rest of you. I am talking about the group as a whole. It fustrates me when good cops won't even acknowledge that there is a serious problem. There first reaction is to defend the cops action no matter what. You pretty much need a video tape of the cop actually breakin the law before they begin to agree that maybey ti was the cop that was in the wrong. I guess thats a natural reaction I dunno. The burden of proof is so heavily slanted on the citizen these days and thats not the way the system is suppose to work.

Doglips · 04-06-2004, 11:41 AM

Some cops..like doctors..lawyers..social workers what ever give the "whole" a bad name/imige....people rember the bad. Some departments have a hard time finding quality officers. My home town...Cocoa has had this problem for years....the Police Cheif and some others were busted by the FBI for racateering about 10yrs ago....running a big time gambeling operation out of the station...like 25K bets being made at the window.......Since then any little thing gets front page news..and evey bad thing gets mentioned..... SO WHEN THEY GO to hire new officers...one from the acadamy are told not to go to cocoa...cause no one will hire you after you work there.....also pay rate for other cities nearby is higher.....So most of the officers they get are "rejects" from other departments...not truly bad cops..but the bottom of the other cities staff....but then these guys/girls are way over weight or too agressive or too burned out and Keep the bad reputation going. Such is life.

04-04-2004, 04:41 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Cops raid wrong apartment. Hoping fruit basket will prevent litigation WRONG-APT. RAIDERS IN SORRY STATE By GEORGETT ROBERTS and CYNTHIA R. FAGEN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Email Archives Print Reprint April 4, 2004 -- Red-faced cops who busted into the wrong Brooklyn apartment looking for a drug dealer and instead wound up terrorizing an elderly man and his wife are trying to make up for their blunder in time for the Jewish holiday. "They sent me a big basket of fruit for Passover. They can't stop apologizing," said Martin Goldberg, 84, who still bears the cut across his forehead he suffered during the drug raid in the Sheepshead Nostrand Houses. Wednesday's mix-up occurred after cops got a tip from a confidential informant that a man was selling drugs at the housing project where Goldberg and his wife, Leona, 82, live, but due to an error in paperwork raided the wrong building. To atone for their mistake, cops from the 65th Precinct have repainted the hallway and door of the couple's apartment and have promised to clean up the mess. In addition, cops have sent Goldberg's wife an orchid and a get-well card as she recuperates in Beth Israel Hospital of Brooklyn from heart pain she suffered during the ordeal. "It was terrible . . . It was the most frightening experience of my life . . . I thought it was a terrorist attack," Leona said. But even with all the hearts and flowers, it will probably not stop the couple from suing the city.

04-04-2004, 04:51 PM	#2
Sniper[MI] Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Future 51st state, "New Hope" Posts: 3,796	Based on the story Chit happens, they raided the wrong place and are seeing to the repairs etc... I do think they should also come up with any medical expense etc...incurred during the raid. __________________ FNUH!

04-04-2004, 05:34 PM	#3
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	at least they didn't get killed

04-04-2004, 06:46 PM	#4
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,877	The city needs to Pay and pay big. The cops need to pay and pay big and someone in the police department needs to be publicly fired and humiliated in front of the whole department. That is the only thing that is ever going to help prevent another situation like that. it will make the cops think more about what they are doing and WHY they are doing it! Their arrogance needs to be broken. and the unprofessionals need to be run off. To arrest the wrong person on a false warrent should be concidered one of the highest crimes that can be committed. It is one of the worst things that can happen __________________ Submitted with respect to all

04-04-2004, 08:26 PM	#5
Lord Shrike Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: MOOOOOOOOOOO land also known as Wisconsin Posts: 1,103	I agree cops need to start being held accountable for these f ups. While were at it lets stop this ridiculous war on drugs that turns our neighborhoods into battlefeilds and stops no one from taking drugs. __________________ Taint nuthin a 12 gauge wont solve

04-04-2004, 09:10 PM	#6
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	We are held accountable. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

04-04-2004, 09:50 PM	#7
Lord Shrike Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: MOOOOOOOOOOO land also known as Wisconsin Posts: 1,103	Not from what I can tell. __________________ Taint nuthin a 12 gauge wont solve

04-04-2004, 11:29 PM	#8
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Explain.....and don't bore me with BS that you haven't personally experienced. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

04-04-2004, 11:36 PM	#9
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Tell me what to do about drugs. But tell me from the level of a street cop, not what the gov't needs to do. Then I will go out there every day and try to apply your tactics. We'll see how it works. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

04-05-2004, 01:06 AM	#10
Despoiler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Occupied Territory of California Posts: 2,232	I wonder what would have happened if the homeowner were armed and he shot a police officer? Would he have been charged? What if the police had shot the homeowners, what would happen to him. There was a similar case in Stockton, ca where a swat team entered the wrong house and ended up shooting a little kid(7or 8 yrs old). As for the officer whom shot the child I am sure it is something he will live with for ever, but I don’t know if or what legal action was taken against him.

04-05-2004, 08:08 AM	#11
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	Let me do some research on that AllenT and I can probably come up with an answer for you. But yes, we are held liable. It can include a prison sentence as well. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

04-05-2004, 09:51 AM	#12
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	we had the same case here and a city had to had over millions because they killed the male half of the household who thought it was a home invasion and had grabbed his shotgun. The homeowner was in the rtight for his defending the home and the PD returned fire -- turns out they missed the house by one door because they didn't take the investigating officer to very the right house. in this case and the one I mentioned it should be standard to hand over ownership of the city for a mistake like this. __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

04-05-2004, 12:24 PM	#13
Lord Shrike Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: MOOOOOOOOOOO land also known as Wisconsin Posts: 1,103	I know of a case here in Waukesha wear the wrong house was raided and a 50 year mother was grabbed thrown to the ground and left handcuffed face first in the snow. I know of another incident where Milwaukee County Sherrifs raided a West Milwaukee home because after some one complained about alot of cars infront of the house they found a joint remnant. There was high car traffic because there was 3 teenagers living in the home. This evedently was justification for a full no knock swat team style raid. As the police made there way through the house throwing family memebers to the floor one officer burst into the room of the teenage daughter. Obviously terrifed she spins around and screams. She is holding a hairbrush which somehow must have resembled a weapon to the officer who promptly shot her. She lived but her leg was permantly damged ending a promising danceing career. You would probably call this raid justified since one of the teenage sons did in fact possess a whole joint. Finally a little over a year ago Milwaukee PD thought it was nessicary to engage in a full out no knock swat team raid of a hispanic grocery store. They detained everyone customers and employees alike and had them shoved face first on the floor including several pregnant women. What were they looking for you ask? Was it crack?...no, marijuana...nope try again....heroin?....ehhhhh nope they were there for penicilin. Thats right the store was selling antibiotics without proper liscening so instead of mailing a warning or haveing a state official issue them a ticket they decided it was better to terroize everyone in the store. In the first case no officer was fired or disaplined in any way none of them are faceing criminal charges. Legal action against the city of Waukesha is still pending. However that doesn't punish the LEO's only the taxpayers. In the second case no officer was fired, disiplined or charged. Milwaukee County agreed to a settlement of $500,000 to the injured girl. Again punishing the taxpayers. In the last case no officer was fired displined or charged. Legal action is pending so the tax payer can suffer yet even more. You may know of some cases where cops are held accountable for there f ups but I know of none. I have never seen it. If your lucky they apologize but they usually don't even do that at the Cities Lawyers request. What should you do about drugs as a street cop. Nothing in my opinoin. Unless they are directly threating someone else saftey through there actions its none of your buisness as far as I am concerned. __________________ Taint nuthin a 12 gauge wont solve

04-05-2004, 01:34 PM	#14
oneastrix Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 5,213	What should you do about drugs as a street cop. Nothing in my opinoin. Unless they are directly threating someone else saftey through there actions its none of your buisness as far as I am concerned. Hmm...interesting outlook. But hey, I asked. __________________ There's no one more thankful to sit at the table, than the one who best remembers hunger's pain.

04-05-2004, 04:41 PM	#15
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,877	1* You are a good guy a reasonable man I have known you from your posts for a long time now. I dont concider you to be the average Chit head. I know you hold your profession in the highest esteem, you work hard at being a professional. We can see that in the way you think. Please understand that there are many many Law Enforcement Officers that are fair minded guys that do not take advantage of their positions of power. And there are many that do. They may not do it every time. but it happens enough that we see, experience and know about such incidents. I dont know an easy solution to the lack of professionalism problem that pervades so many departments in these times. The patriot act and other new legislation opens up many more opportunities for police officers to display un professional conduct. This is what has everyone so troubled. I am refereshed that you have an interest in anothers point of view of this situation. Perhaps we can IM and discuss it further? __________________ Submitted with respect to all

04-05-2004, 08:51 PM	#16
Rave Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 6,877	The tax payer is still paying, and the band is still playing, and it just gets better every day.

04-05-2004, 11:58 PM	#18
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	Dennis I agree Matt is a really good guy and from what I know of him and how well he does his job he is one !!!! fine cop -- I would have been proud to have him as a partner anyday. __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

04-06-2004, 11:17 AM	#19
Lord Shrike Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: MOOOOOOOOOOO land also known as Wisconsin Posts: 1,103	No ones gunnin on 1* I get the same vibe from him as the rest of you. I am talking about the group as a whole. It fustrates me when good cops won't even acknowledge that there is a serious problem. There first reaction is to defend the cops action no matter what. You pretty much need a video tape of the cop actually breakin the law before they begin to agree that maybey ti was the cop that was in the wrong. I guess thats a natural reaction I dunno. The burden of proof is so heavily slanted on the citizen these days and thats not the way the system is suppose to work. __________________ Taint nuthin a 12 gauge wont solve

04-06-2004, 11:41 AM	#20
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Some cops..like doctors..lawyers..social workers what ever give the "whole" a bad name/imige....people rember the bad. Some departments have a hard time finding quality officers. My home town...Cocoa has had this problem for years....the Police Cheif and some others were busted by the FBI for racateering about 10yrs ago....running a big time gambeling operation out of the station...like 25K bets being made at the window.......Since then any little thing gets front page news..and evey bad thing gets mentioned..... SO WHEN THEY GO to hire new officers...one from the acadamy are told not to go to cocoa...cause no one will hire you after you work there.....also pay rate for other cities nearby is higher.....So most of the officers they get are "rejects" from other departments...not truly bad cops..but the bottom of the other cities staff....but then these guys/girls are way over weight or too agressive or too burned out and Keep the bad reputation going. Such is life.