Woman Dies Of Heart Attack After Police Execute Search Warrant At Wrong Apartment

[isekii]

Possible Lawsuit ?

Linky

The New York City Police Department issued an apology Friday after a Harlem woman suffered a fatal heart attack when police executed a search warrant at the wrong apartment Friday morning.

Police showed up at the West 143rd Street home of Alberta Spruill, 57, early Friday morning after receiving information from an informant that a convicted drug dealer was using the apartment to stash drugs and weapons. Police had also been told that a dog was guarding the apartment, so they detonated a flash grenade ? designed to cause disorientation ? as they entered.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says Spruill was briefly handcuffed before officers realized they had the wrong apartment. A short time later, Spruill told police she had a heart condition.

?Ms. Spruill's vital signs were taken, and they appeared to be normal, but then she began to have difficulty breathing,? Kelly said Friday afternoon. ?She was taken to the ambulance, where she went into cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at 7:50 this morning at Harlem Hospital."

"On behalf of the entire New York City Police Department, I want to offer my condolences and sympathy to the family of Alberta Spruill," the commissioner said. "I also want to offer my apology.?

Kelly said that the informant had pointed officers to the door of Spruill's apartment. Nevertheless, he said he was placing the lieutenant in charge of the operation on administrative duty until an internal investigation is complete.

"We're looking at whether follow-up surveillance should have been conducted in the process of identifying the apartment, and we're looking at the judgment of the officers in using a flash grenade," Kelly said.

Spruill's neighbors were shocked at the news of her death.

?This is devastating to us because we all know this women very well, and she is a very nice woman. She goes to work every day, she goes to church, and she doesn?t bother anyone,? said one neighbor. ?This is a mistake, and they need to make sure they have their facts right before they go into people?s houses like this.?

?She?s just a nice person,? said another area resident who knew Spruill. ?She?s not into nothing but church, her job, and [is] a friendly woman.?

Friends said Spruill never missed a Sunday service at Convent Avenue Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. Acquaintances said that she lived alone, but was frequently visited by her sister, who lives in North Carolina.

"We're deeply sorry," Kelly said of the incident. "This was a tragedy. It never should have happened. We want to do a thorough investigation to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Police say of the 1,900 search warrants issued so far this year, only four have turned out to be the wrong address.

 

[Chess]

Wholy sh&t Thats NUTS!....

 

[Banana]

They should just settle up front . . .

 

[Marshallj]

If a police officer had a heart attack while a civilian made a mistake, they'd be charging that person with murder.

I hope they act consistently and treat the officers with the same "respect" that they treat people with.

 

[Smolek]

Big lawsuit

 

[EagleKeeper]

The police acted according to the information recieved. How could they know that it was incorrect. It is one thing to go the the wrong address, it is another to go to the correct address provided. How could they know that the information was incorrect? Had it been correct, then what they did was correct.

 

[Mill]

With an incorrect address no matter the intent it opens them up for a lawsuit. If I was in charge of the legal department I would dangle a settlement ASAP. While they were going on the best information they had, mistakes happen and parties are harmed. I don't think any lawsuit would be frivolous. Mistakes happen and they need to own up to their mistake.

 

[ElFenix]

sounds like the informant fvcked up

 

[cliftonite]

Time to pay up.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The police acted according to the information recieved. How could they know that it was incorrect. It is one thing to go the the wrong address, it is another to go to the correct address provided. How could they know that the information was incorrect? Had it been correct, then what they did was correct.

Using the police's commonly used logic, the attourney for this lady can say "Somebody's death occured as a result of somebody else's negligence. That person must now be found and they must pay the price."

Isn't that what the police always say?

They commonly say stuff like "Just because it was a mistake doesn't mean that you didn't break the law", and "Ignorance is no excuse".

"Just because it was an accident doesn't mean someone didn't just DIE".

These are all tactics used by the police to incriminate a citizen who made an honest mistake. Would your feelings be different if the roles were reversed here? You must reason using the same logic for both sides.

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The police acted according to the information recieved. How could they know that it was incorrect. It is one thing to go the the wrong address, it is another to go to the correct address provided. How could they know that the information was incorrect? Had it been correct, then what they did was correct.

oh jeez, This are professionals we are talking about, not some thirdworld punks. They can't just go on hunches, guesses or based on informants whose background might be questionable to begin with. As much as I would like to support cops in doing their jobs things like this are simply unacceptable. I hope NYPD gets their ass sued for wrongful death.

 

[Banana]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The police acted according to the information recieved. How could they know that it was incorrect. It is one thing to go the the wrong address, it is another to go to the correct address provided. How could they know that the information was incorrect? Had it been correct, then what they did was correct.

I hope the cops don't blindly follow any tip w/o corroboration. For example, in this case, how about asking the neighbors first?

 

[imported_Tomato]

:|

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Zombie

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The police acted according to the information recieved. How could they know that it was incorrect. It is one thing to go the the wrong address, it is another to go to the correct address provided. How could they know that the information was incorrect? Had it been correct, then what they did was correct.

oh jeez, This are professionals we are talking about, not some thirdworld punks. They can't just go on hunches, guesses or based on informants whose background might be questionable to begin with. As much as I would like to support cops in doing their jobs things like this are simply unacceptable. I hope NYPD gets their ass sued for wrongful death.

Just imagine what this will do ... them already with their budget deficit, in the end it's the NY tax payers that take all the hits

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Yay for no-knocks.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

The informant might also be sued too. Not a good day to be him

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: Zombie

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
The police acted according to the information recieved. How could they know that it was incorrect. It is one thing to go the the wrong address, it is another to go to the correct address provided. How could they know that the information was incorrect? Had it been correct, then what they did was correct.

oh jeez, This are professionals we are talking about, not some thirdworld punks. They can't just go on hunches, guesses or based on informants whose background might be questionable to begin with. As much as I would like to support cops in doing their jobs things like this are simply unacceptable. I hope NYPD gets their ass sued for wrongful death.

Just imagine what this will do ... them already with their budget deficit, in the end it's the NY tax payers that take all the hits

I am not saying that the cops incharge should be punished. It was a mistake and NYPD in general should be held responsible and they have to pay-up. I seriously doubt NY will go bankrupt if they had to pay 20+ million dollars in any lawsuit.

 

[Zombie]

The informant might also be sued too. Not a good day to be him

Who knows he might just be some crackhead who was trying to make a deal with the cops. He may not have anything for the lawyers to take except for his shopping cart full of cans.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Zombie

Just imagine what this will do ... them already with their budget deficit, in the end it's the NY tax payers that take all the hits

I am not saying that the cops incharge should be punished. It was a mistake and NYPD in general should be held responsible and they have to pay-up. I seriously doubt NY will go bankrupt if they had to pay 20+ million dollars in any lawsuit.[/quote]


What if a civilian's mistake resulted in a police officer's death? Do you think the police would just say "yeah, it was an honest mistake", or do you think they'd be out to convict someone?

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Zombie

Just imagine what this will do ... them already with their budget deficit, in the end it's the NY tax payers that take all the hits

I am not saying that the cops incharge should be punished. It was a mistake and NYPD in general should be held responsible and they have to pay-up. I seriously doubt NY will go bankrupt if they had to pay 20+ million dollars in any lawsuit.

What if a civilian's mistake resulted in a police officer's death? Do you think the police would just say "yeah, it was an honest mistake", or do you think they'd be out to convict someone?[/quote]


NYPD might have hunted him down and that guy would have spent his life in jail. It is very rare where a civilian gets off after causing a cops death. Cops would make sure that they make the charges stick.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Serve and Protect.... Or not. How dificult can it possibly be to find out the home you're about to storm is inhabated by a 57 year old woman? Way to go cops. I guess common sense is something they don't screen for in law inforcement.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: cliftonite
Time to pay up.

seriously! can't even get simple addresses right.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
Serve and Protect.... Or not. How dificult can it possibly be to find out the home you're about to storm is inhabated by a 57 year old woman? Way to go cops. I guess common sense is something they don't screen for in law inforcement.

You obviously have no idea how breeches and searches take place so bow you ass out of this thread. No one is saying mistakes weren't made, but it had nothing to do with common sense or law enforcement in general. Take your cop hating somewhere else.

It is obvious they should have tried to verify through another informant or talk to the landlord first to see what can of occupants were in the apartment. You can also do surveillance or talk to neighbors and hope you don't tip the people off. When mistakes are made like this policy needs to be looked at. I seriously doubt it was result of those officer's incompetence. NYPD is one of the best departments BAR NONE in the world. Everyone makes mistakes, but they will have to pay up.

BTW, your lack of spelling and grammar suggests that you are at best an uneducated 15 year old.