Pubdate: Sat, 13 Oct 2001
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162
Author:  Domingo Ramirez Jr.

WARRANT FOR DAVIS DRUG RAID WAS VALID, JUDGE RULES

A judge ruled Friday that a warrant permitting a drug raid at the 
North Richland Hills home of true crime writer Barbara Davis in 1999 
was valid. Davis's son, Troy Davis, 25, was killed by police during 
the raid. Her attorneys had filed a motion to suppress the search and 
arrest warrant from being used as evidence in her drug possession 
trial. Senior state District Judge C.C. "Kit" Cooke ruled against the 
motion.

No date has been scheduled for Barbara Davis's trial. The warrant, 
issued by state District Judge Sharen Wilson in December 1999, states 
that police suspected the two of growing "a substantial amount of 
marijuana."

Prosecutor Betty Arvin of the Tarrant County district attorney's 
office said she is pleased with the ruling. Attorneys for Barbara 
Davis had argued in the motion to suppress that police had no grounds 
for the raid. Bill Lane of Fort Worth, Barbara Davis' attorney, could 
not be reached Friday to comment. The raid and shooting occurred Dec. 
15, 1999, when 17 tactical team officers raided the house.

Police said Troy Davis was pointing a loaded 9 mm pistol at officers 
when he was shot by tactical team member Allen Hill. Barbara Davis 
has said that her son was not armed and that police placed the gun 
near her son's body. Police said they found three marijuana plants 
and enough of the drug gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, to make 600 
doses.

Police also found 16 guns, all legal, authorities said.  In 
connection with the raid, Barbara Davis, 50, is charged with 
possession of controlled substance, 4 ounces to 200 grams.

The district attorney's office has dropped a possession of controlled 
substance/marijuana charge against her.

Barbara Davis and her attorneys have said that Troy Davis had a 
weapon in his room because his mother had received death threats 
related to her writing. She has also said that the raid was improper 
because it was based on a tip from a disgruntled relative.

A Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict North Richland Hills 
police officer Allen Hill in the shooting. He has resigned from the 
Police Department.
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