Georgia Cops Who Flashbanged Toddler Avoid Criminal Charges

[Cali_Democrat]

Clearly the toddler was some kind of threat:



ATLANTA, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A grand jury in Georgia on Monday declined to indict sheriff's deputies who during a drug raid in May set off a stun grenade that severely injured a 19-month-old boy, prosecutors said Monday.

The toddler, Bounkham Phonesavanh, was badly burned when the "flash-bang" device landed in the playpen where he was sleeping during a raid to arrest a suspect police say had sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer in northeastern Georgia.

A federal investigation of the incident is still pending, Habersham County District Attorney Brian Rickman said.

County Sheriff Joey Terrell has called the boy's injuries "devastating" but unavoidable, saying police who tossed the grenade to distract the suspect did not believe children were in the home.

The suspect, a relative of the child, was not in the house during the raid but was later arrested nearby, police have said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/06/flashbanged-toddler-bounkham-phonesavanh_n_5943098.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices&ir=Black%20Voices

[notadmblnd]

1. Clearly, because we all know everyone is treated equally in this country

[Arkansas Granny]

2. According to other articles I've seen about this incident, the police had every reason to believe

that there were children in the house because of toys in the front yard. If they had done proper surveillance, they would have known who was staying in the house, as well. Instead, they stage an attack with no consideration of the safety of the other people who were in the house because of a small quantity of drugs.

This child faces years of treatment and additional surgery because of an overzealous police force anxious to use all of their paramilitary toys. It's a shame that an innocent child has to pay for their mistakes.

I hope everyone involved in that raid has a picture of that child seared into their brain and never forgets that they were responsible for his injuries.

[NV Whino]

3. do I detect a civil suite in the future?