A bunch of roommates in Maryland are suing their county after cops allegedly burst into their home with out trigger, detained them, after which shot their canine.
The roommates are suing Prince George’s County and are searching for not less than $16m in damages, based on CBS News.
On 2 June, 2021, officers in Prince George’s County responded to a report {that a} canine had bitten somebody on the residence advanced the place the plaintiffs lived.
Body digital camera footage exhibits the cops arriving on the plaintiffs’ residence advanced and knocked on the plaintiffs’ door. No one answered, so the police obtained a grasp key from a upkeep employee on the property and returned to the residence.
The officers entered the residence with their weapons drawn. Two of the home mates have been of their rooms when the police burst into the unit. One individual might be heard yelling that the police haven’t any proper to be of their residing area. The police mentioned they didn’t want a warrant to enter as that they had “possible trigger.”
The canine residing on the residence reportedly adopted an officer out of one of many bedrooms and approached its proprietor, Erica Umana. The police allegedly panicked, based on the lawsuit, after which they fired their weapons on the canine.
Ms Umana instructed the Washington Post in 2021 that she pleaded with them to assist her wounded and dying pet, however she claims they confirmed no concern.
“I used to be simply begging them, begging them,” she mentioned. “They simply had no regret.”
Four Maryland roomates are suing police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, after they allegedly shot and killed their canine
(The Washington Post)
The police then handcuffed the roommates and placed them into their cruisers for roughly an hour earlier than releasing them from custody.
The roommates initially sought prison costs in opposition to the police, however the Maryland state lawyer’s workplace selected to not prosecute the case, claiming the officers “did not generate prison legal responsibility as a result of they have been performing in good religion,” based on the Washington Post.
Prince George’s County officers allegedly supplied to pay for Ms Umana’s vet payments if she would keep quiet concerning the incident, however she refused, based on the lawsuit.
Three of the officers concerned have been placed on administrative go away after the taking pictures, and a division investigator accused two of them of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for coming into a home with no warrant. A 3rd officer was cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Independent has reached out to the Prince George’s County Police Department for remark.
The plaintiffs’ lawsuit accuses the police of partaking in extreme power, false arrest, and violation of their constitutional rights in opposition to unreasonable searches and seizures.
