Dec 18, 2007 6:43 pm US/Central
Chief Apologizes To Family Over Mistaken Raid
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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With the help of his attorney to translate, Khang walked through his house, showing where he fired shots as the officers were coming in the house and where the SWAT officers returned fire.
CBS
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Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan promised to repair the house as soon as possible.
CBS
Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan personally apologized to a family whose house was raided by police early Sunday morning.
Dolan met with Vang Khang's family and family elders Tuesday morning. He also told them his officers made mistakes in how they handled the investigation which lead up to the SWAT team warrant.
An informant gave officers incorrect information which pointed them to the Hmong-American's family's house on Logan Avenue North. The suspect being sought was African-American.
Dolan said "that he is very sorry as to what happened and that his investigators and people did make a mistake and so he's sorry for that," according to the family's attorney Sia Lo.
In the emotional meeting, which the family videotaped, Dolan reassured them that the homeowner, Vang Khang, won't be charged with firing at officers whom he thought were intruders when they stormed his home. The officers returned fire, and bullet holes and shattered glass are still all over the house. Dolan promised to repair the house as soon as possible.
After the meeting, Dolan told WCCO-TV reporter Caroline Lowe that a preliminary investigation indicates "mistakes were likely made in the investigative end by police. And we are accepting full responsibility for it."
In a tour of their home, the family's attorney praised the chief for meeting with them.
"The meeting today helped, tremendously for the healing process to start," said Lo.
With the help of his attorney to translate, Khang walked through his house, showing where he fired shots as the officers were coming in the house and where the SWAT officers returned fire. No one was hurt but two officers were hit in the back and in the head. They were protected by a helmet and vest.
Several officers remain on administrative leave as the MPD continues their internal investigation of the botched raid. One of the key questions is what steps investigators on the department's Violent Offenders task Force took to verify the informant's information on the address before getting a judge to sign a search warrant.
The parents and six Khang children are staying with relatives. They said they appreciate Dolan's promise to immediately repair their damaged home. However, they also said the kids are having nightmares and are not likely to return to their home any time soon, if at all.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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