Pubdate: Sun, 30 Sep 2001
Source: Galveston County Daily News (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Galveston Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.galvnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/164
Author: Carter Thompson

BOY INJURED IN DRUG RAID RECOVERING

Sitting up next to his bed at John Sealy Hospital, Henry Ashford strains to 
speak and complains the tube running down a nostril and into his stomach 
hurts his throat when he talks.

The 19-year-old has been unable to eat or drink anything since an explosive 
diversionary device used by police took part of his large intestine, 
punctured a kidney and left a hole in his back that doctors are now trying 
to figure out how to close.

"You can't explain it," Ashford said of the pain. "Your whole back is missing."

Ashford may have been guilty of keeping bad company. The two other people 
with him are facing

drug charges after police recovered 150 grams -- more than 5 ounces -- of 
crack cocaine in the apartment.

But Ashford was by all accounts an innocent bystander, and Department of 
Public of Safety narcotics investigators say they don't envision filing 
charges against him.

It was Tuesday night when police stormed the island apartment where Ashford 
was a guest.

Galveston SWAT team members serving a warrant had reason to believe a 
suspected drug dealer inside was armed. Officers recovered a .357-caliber 
Magnum revolver in the raid.

Ashford said his friend had the pistol leveled on the door, not knowing the 
footsteps coming up the stairs were those of police officers.

"That's what made it a high-risk entry," said Galveston police Chief Robert 
Pierce, who added police suspect the occupants of the apartment were 
involved in two shootings in recent months.

The situation in the apartment, police say, called for the use of a 
flash-bang, a canister grenade designed not to injure but to distract and 
disorient with loud boom.

The goal is to avoid bloodshed by giving the police an edge against those 
they seek to arrest. Police can descend on stunned opponents less likely to 
attack, and less likely to compel authorities to defend themselves with 
deadly force.

But this flash-bang somehow came to close to Ashford -- who was sitting on 
a couch -- and blew the hole in his back.

Ashford said the blow dazed him. He said he could see but not comprehend.

A SWAT team officer yelling at him to get onto the floor was his welcome 
back to reality, Ashford said.

"I didn't want to move I was so hurt," he said. "I kept pleading: 'If you 
help me I'll get down. Somebody shot me.'"

Ashford said the officer threw him to the floor.

Police are investigating Ashford's injury. The investigation will be 
similar to those in which an officer is involved in a shooting, said 
Galveston police Capt. Edward Benevides.

Investigators determined the flash-bang careened off a wall and landed on 
the couch where Ashford sat, Benevides said. It is believed Ashford ducked 
in an unlucky direction.

Ashford and his family, however, say the device hit him.

The district attorney's office looked into the incident and determined the 
injury was the result of an accident, Benevides said.

Patricia Ann Johnson, Henry's mother, said her family planned to file a 
lawsuit against the police department to recover medical costs, pain and 
suffering and what she believed would be a long-term disability.

Pierce said flash-bangs have caused deaths in Los Angeles and New York.

Police weigh a number of factors in deciding whether a flash-bang was 
warranted and safe, Benevides said.

Those factors include whether the suspects are armed and whether children 
are present.

In the wake of the raid, Cedrick Spurlock, 21, and Sheree Allen were 
charged with possession with intent to distribute and controlled substance. 
Spurlock also was charged with theft of a firearm.
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MAP posted-by: Beth