Police toss explosive device, hurt man
Victim hit with stun grenade
by Jordan Schrader, STAFF WRITER
published February 3, 2006 6:00 am
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ASHEVILLE — A stun grenade thrown during a raid on what police called a crack house landed in a man’s lap and exploded, an attorney for the injured man said Thursday.

“That’s pretty horrific,” said Charlotte lawyer Java Warren, describing injuries that could leave the man unable to father children. “I know normally they just roll them in on the floor.”

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Warren declined to name the man or say whether he plans any action against the Asheville Police Department.

Officers threw the explosive device into the house during the Jan. 25 raid of a Shiloh home, Capt. Tim Splain said.

The “flashbang,” or stun grenade, emits a blinding flash of light and a loud noise designed to distract someone long enough for law enforcement to take control of a situation. Splain said it’s part of the typical arsenal for the Drug Suppression Unit, which doubles as the department’s tactical team.

“There’s always a danger if it gets right next to you,” he said.

But “never in a million years do you expect people to get injured doing what you’ve done a million times.”

He would not explain how the stun grenade was deployed or name the injured man, saying more information would be released today.

Chief Bill Hogan did not return phone calls Thursday.

Officers from the tactical team raided the mobile home at 401 Caribou Road after obtaining a search warrant. In the document, an officer called the home a “smoke house” where people bought and smoked crack.

Police had raided the house before in June and found crack cocaine and firearms, according to the warrant.

Police said they confirmed drug dealing continued to happen there by sending in an undercover source equipped with a hidden camera and money to trade for drugs.

During the Jan. 25 raid, the warrant states, police seized pill bottles containing unidentified white substances, a handgun magazine, ammunition and other items.

Police declined to say if anyone was arrested or charged during the raid, including the injured man.

Warren, the attorney, said he had not discussed why the man was there.

“He was sitting there drinking a beer, and they threw some kind of bomb in there that landed in his lap.”

Maybe he will change his ways now.

IIRC, wasn't chuck one of the folks who lobbied so hard to have flash-bangs classified as destructive devices in the first place.

must be nice to have your cake and eat it too.

Lets hope it does make him unable to father children...

Ever see the video where they stick an M-80 in a mannequin's pocket?

Flashbang on the lap... ouch.

But “never in a million years do you expect people to get injured doing what you’ve done a million times.”

=



complacency

“That’s pretty horrific,” said Charlotte lawyer Java Warren, describing injuries that could leave the man unable to father children. “I know normally they just roll them in on the floor.”

Learned from television, perhaps?