The Habbersham County officials, in particular Sheriff Joey Terrell,  have been all over the map with their justifications that led to a 19-month-old toddler clinging to life as a result of a severely flawed 3am “No Knock” SWAT raid.

If you have followed this story from the beginning you’ll notice the familiar pattern of false stories which initially surface by police now being entirely contradicted.   Check out this ABC report with about a half dozen inconsistencies noted from initial justification.

The terrorized family now has legal counsel after the Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously denied to listen to their pleas for an investigation.  And friends have put together a donation site to support the family in their immediate needs HERE.

Radio Talk show host Michael Graham shares:

CLARKESVILLE – Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brian Rickman says his office will review the early-morning drug raid near Cornelia Wednesday that resulted in burns to a 19-month-old child.

Members of the Habersham Special Response Team, comprised of Habersham County sheriff’s deputies and Cornelia police officers, executed a “no knock” search warrant at a home located at 182 Lakeview Heights Circle outside Cornelia.

During the team’s forced entry, a flash bang grenade, also called a stun grenade, was used as a diversionary device. That device burned 19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavanh.

Given that Sheriff Terrell was insisting yesterday that his office had been entirely cleared by the DA, this is an important first step. Unfortunately it appears to be a very small step: (more…)

(Via Human Events) Time to revisit an old abuse-of-power scandal from President Obama’s first term: the utterly bizarre raid on Gibson Guitars by a paramilitary unit of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nothing about this caper ever smelled right: a raid coming from out of nowhere, without warning, to kick Gibson’s doors down, ostensibly because they violated some vaporous provision of import laws when bringing hardwood into the country.

It wasn’t even American law they were supposedly violating, but an American law that said they were in hot water for violating the laws of India and Madagascar, which came as something of a surprise to authorities in India and Madagascar.

In a delightful inversion of American legal principle, the folks at Gibson were never allowed to see the sealed warrant that supposedly authorized the raid. Guilty until proven innocent! We’ll get back to you later on what you’re allegedly guilty of. (more…)

Update: This story has struck a nerve because it clearly shows a horrible consequence to yet another example of several no-knock raids we have outlined in the past several months.

To that end we have contacted a local Atlanta media reporter seeking further information and assistance, as well as offering our resources. (more details will follow)

In the interim here is some information we have gathered after a few phone calls:

The “no knock” raid took place at the suspects mothers house, not his. This specific residence has never been a drug house, never identified as a high risk house, and has never been the subject of any prior law enforcement engagement.  [*NOTE* the police dispute this, but it should be easy enough to verify]

The suspect being sought on the warrant, Wanis Thometheva (aged 30), did not live there, nor was the address his known or listed address on any current or previous identification over the past five years.  [should be easy enough to verify]

The police were told by an “unknown and unnamed informant”, that Wanis Thometheva lived there (that is the position of the police).  However, he did not.

Wanis Thometheva was arrested later at his listed residence.

The local Sheriff has publically stated there were no weapons or drugs found in the house that was raided under the warrant.  [*NOTE* Another media report reflects the Sheriff saying they found “residue” – again this should be easy enough to verify]  The  visiting  family,  little “Bou Bou” Phonesavanhs, his three older sisters and both parents, were asleep in the room (garage conversion) while visiting from Wisconsin.

Only the little boy was injured.   He is 19 months old.

The family is from Wisconsin where their home was recently destroyed in a house fire. The father of the little boy is the brother of the suspects mother.  The 19 month old victim and the suspect named on the warrant are cousins.  In essence the family were staying with the little boys aunt.

The family was due to go back to Wisconsin later the same morning the incident took place.  Their car was packed in preparation for them leaving later that morning. (more…)

The White House legal advisor who framed the administrations legal references for drone killing of American citizens is due to be confirmed without allowing his drone memos to be reviewed prior to confirmation vote.  Yeah, we have a problem with that…. 

WASHINGTON DC – Bolstered by the promised public release of a secret legal memo, Senate Democrats are ready to approve a top federal judgeship for a former Obama administration official who helped formulate the justification for the drone killings of suspected American terrorists overseas.

The Senate was expected Thursday to approve David Barron to join the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in Boston.

Barron cleared a pivotal hurdle Wednesday when senators voted 52-43 to end opponents’ efforts to derail the nomination. In that roll call, Barron was opposed by every voting Republican and two Democrats, Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. (more…)