‘Accidental’ Raid
A mother is claiming that the Ohio Police Department raided her house, and put her 17-month-old baby boy through a traumatic time. She claims they caused her baby’s burn injuries, due to them using flash-bangs. They broke a window close to where the baby was causing severe injuries to the infant. Furthermore Courtney Price, the mother, showed video proof of someone yelling “it’s the wrong house.” However, the police state that they indeed had the right address and they did not harm the baby at any circumstances. It is not confirmed who yelled this phrase.
The warrant was made for a teenager that previously lived in the house Price now owns. However, they share nothing in common except the house where they live. Kevin A. Brubaker, Mayor of Elyria, Ohio, said that this was a serious and disturbing incident and will proceed an investigation. Price states that she had recently moved into the house. Additionally, it is property of her uncle an aunt and they offered to let her live with them. She is a single mother trying to raise her 17-month-old. She added that her son was born prematurely and suffers with special needs.
Released Footage
The Mayor of Elyria, Ohio has recently released footage from the police cam. In the video, the officers announced they were at the door and within seconds they threw a flash-bang through the window and knocked the door down.
Once they raid the home, another police cam shows a woman being handcuffed and taken outside. The woman proceeds to tell the police officers that her baby is in the house and using a ventilator. She is seen, explaining her baby’s health for several minutes before the officers decide to take the handcuffs off to get the infant. After the baby is in her arms the police finally decided to call an ambulance.
Despite this, the police involved in this raid claim that there is no possible way for the flash bang to have caused burn injuries to the child. They stated that the flash bang only causes temporary hearing and vision loss. They also claimed that the child had no “visible injuries. The child’s mother informed detectives that she intended on taking the child to the hospital due to the child’s pre-existing illness unrelated to the tactical operation; however, she lacked an available car seat for transportation.”
Unfair Treatment To The Family
Mayor Kevin A. Brubaker stated that the family’s allegations are very concerning.
The serious and disturbing nature of the allegations concerns all Elyrians. Our residents demand to know what occurred, and rightfully so. Thankfully, our City had the technology to record events in real time via many body-worn cameras throughout the entirety of the incident.
Price recently opened a GoFundMe for her son’s medical expenses she claims were caused by the raid.
“The negligence from Elyria Police Department caused my baby to have burned eyes, burned chest, burned arm, burned neck,” expressed Courtney Price. Furthermore, reports state the baby has Pulmonary Hypertension. Which is a severe lung disease that can cause the baby to have difficulty breathing. The baby also suffers from a hole in his heart, according to his mother. Price said she had moved from Kentucky to Ohio because her son needed heart surgery. However, that has now been rescheduled.
“We came here for a fresh start… but I just don’t like being here now,” said Price. As of right now, it is confirmed that the family will be taking legal action against the department.
Written by Erika P. Cano
Sources:
Sky News: Ohio police raid on ‘wrong house’ left sick baby with burns, mum claims
CBS News: New bodycam footage from Ohio police raid shows officers using flash-bang, talking to mother of sick infant
WHIO 7: Ohio mother claims police raided wrong home, injured sick toddler
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Etienne Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Raymond Wambsgans Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
