A Denver family is suing local police after a SWAT team raided their wrong apartment at gunpoint, traumatizing two children under 7 years old. Body camera footage reveals officers entered unit 306 in June 2023 despite clear signage showing their suspect resided in apartment 307 across the hall.
Kirsty Shelton recounted the incident:
They stormed in while my girls screamed in their bedroom. Police locked us in a squad car for an hour like criminals.The lawsuit claims officers later denied the raid occurred despite documented commands to secure the apartmentin police reports.
Key allegations include:
- Violation of Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search/seizure
- Use of excessive force against unarmed civilians
- Failure to admit error or provide incident documentation
Colorado’s 2020 police accountability law enables this lawsuit by removing qualified immunity protections in state courts. Legal experts highlight the rare but severe consequences of tactical errors in high-stakes operations. Former SWAT commander Thor Eells notes:
Once entry begins, teams must secure all spaces – even mistaken locations – to ensure public safety.
The Shelton family required extensive counseling for trauma sustained during the raid. Their attorneys emphasize that Denver PD still hasn’t released a full incident report 18 months later, raising questions about transparency in police reform efforts.