The FBI is apologizing to a Fitchburg woman after cutting her door open with a chai

[No Elephants]

Source: AP, via Boston.com

FITCHBURG, Mass.—The FBI is apologizing to a Fitchburg woman after cutting her door open with a chainsaw and pointing their guns at her during a raid last week.


<snip>

She says she was held face down on the floor at gunpoint for at least 30 minutes. Her 3-year-old daughter, meanwhile, cried in another room. Sanchez says she and her daughter now have trouble sleeping.

The FBI apologized and is paying for the damage.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/02/01/fbi_apologizes_to_fitchburg_woman_after_mistake/

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Is the FBI paying for the damage to this mom and her daughter, or only the damage to the door?


Apparently, it was the correct address, but wrong apartment.


How hard can it be for one of the most sophisticated law enforcement agencies on the planet to get an apartment number right, though?

Somehow, I see a lawsuit on the horizon--and probably rightly so. However, I'm guessing the FBI personnel responsible will not go out of pocket for this, only the U.S. taxpayer.

[Divine Discontent]

1. oh damn! surrrry bout that, ma'am, wrong apt #!

its not like a pizza went to a wrong apt. these kind of stories are terrifying - but that's what they want maybe...

30 min facedown at gunpoint? that could kill someone with a heart problem.

[No Elephants]

2. Thank heaven for small favors.

At least they did not shoot her to death in front of her 3 year old for resisting arrest before they double checked the apartment number.

BTW, your pizza analogy is great. How many pizzas are delivered in a given 24 period, versus armed FBI raids like this one.

Even though an incorrect pizza delivery would not traumatize a normal adult, what is the error rate of mistakes in addresses and/or apartment numbers by pizza deliverers versus the error rate by law enforcement?

Does that make us laugh any less about the Cain primary battle?

[Divine Discontent]

3. ha! thanks, yeah, someone should ask them

to release their error rate or incorrect apprehension/raids. didn't someone check the address twice???

and you said it, small favors, at least they didn't put one in her while the child was watching in terror. these guys get all hyped up for their raid, get their raid gear all perfect, and they realize they incompetently scared the hell outta this family!

[Ash_F]

4. Best part is they were on only looking for drugs.

Since when is this kind of Swat assault ok for just drugs? What happened to waiting for them to go to the store and nabbing them by their car? Call your congressmen, ask them to make this illegal.

[No Elephants]

5. Good point.

[lbrtbell]

6. It would be hilarious if it weren't a true story

Scary, scary shit.