Ga. Cops Who Blew Off Toddler's Face With Grenade Won't Be Charged
Late Monday afternoon, a Habersham County, Ga. grand jury announced that no charges will be filed against the Georgia law enforcement officers who threw a stun grenade into a crib, severely disfiguring a nineteen-month-old boy's face, during a botched drug raid in May.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Nineteen-month-old Bounkham "Bou Bou" Phonesavanh's nose was detached from his face after a stun grenade landed in his playpen during the raid, carried out by a Habersham SWAT team in May. According to an incident report obtained from the Habersham sheriff's office, deputies were told to anticipate a cache of weapons and armed guards at the home.
No drugs or weapons were found in the home, and the suspect, Wanis Thonetheva, was arrested later at another house, with only a small amount of methamphetamine in his possession.
Habersham County has refused to pay for Phonesavanh's medical care, saying in August that "it would be in violation of the law for it to do so."