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By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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Denver SWAT Raid Ignites Legal Firestorm
In June 2023 Denver SWAT officers stormed the wrong apartment near East 14th Avenue and Bannock Street. Bodycam footage shows them detaining grandmother Sharon Shelton-Knight barefoot in a hallway while her grandchildren screamed nearby. The target? A suspect named Danny Garcia in Apt 307—they raided Apt 306 instead (SAN.com).
Afterward police claimed the family evacuated “voluntarily” despite video evidence of forced entry. Officers later admitted their mistake but only after the Shelton-Knights filed a groundbreaking lawsuit under Colorado’s 2020 police reform law. Meanwhile similar cases reveal systemic issues with excessive force and cover-ups across U.S. SWAT teams (Reason).
How Often Do Officers Avoid Liability? (2023 Data)
25%: Partial immunity
15%: Lawsuits proceed
Police Protocols Derailed in Botched Operation
SWAT teams operate under strict protocols documented in tactical manuals. Procedure requires confirming addresses via multiple sources before breaching. Denver officers skipped these verification steps—they ignored visible apartment numbers and family protests during the raid (Newsday).
The aftermath reveals deeper flaws. Reports falsely described evacuating minors “for safety” but omitted drawn firearms and hour-long detention in squad cars. Such fabrications complicate legal battles because officers often receive immunity for discretionary decisions unless constitutional violations are blatant (Innocence Project).
Families Fight Back With Landmark Lawsuits
Colorado’s Enhanced Law Enforcement Integrity Act stripped qualified immunity for state-level claims in 2020. The Shelton-Knights’ lawsuit uses this law to seek damages for psychological trauma and property damage. Their case could set a national precedent much like the $3.76 million settlement Denver paid in a 2022 wrong-door raid (SAN.com).
Aftermath of Wrong Raids on Families
Legal experts note Colorado’s law creates accountability pathways other states lack. However federal courts still dismiss most excessive force claims unless prior rulings explicitly forbid similar actions. This jurisprudential quagmire leaves many victims without recourse nationally (FLETC).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
