Pubdate: Wed, 01 Oct 2014
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2014 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Christian Boone

HABERSHAM TASK FORCE INVOLVED IN BOTCHED RAID DISBANDED

The task force responsible for supplying information used in the May
drug raid that left a toddler disfigured is being disbanded.

The news comes just as a Habersham County grand jury is hearing
evidence about the Mountain Judicial Circuit Narcotics Criminal
Investigation and Suppression Team's role in the planning of the raid
that left 19-month-old Bounkham "Bou Bou" Phonesavanh seriously
injured after a stun grenade exploded in his playpen.

"It's interesting that would happen now," said Mawuli Davis, the
attorney representing the Phonesavanh family.

Drug investigations and prosecutions will now fall under the domain of
the Appalachian Drug Task Force, a multi-county drug enforcement
agency that covers White, Banks, Lumpkin and Towns counties. The GBI
is responsible for supervising and training the newly expanded task
force.

Controversy has followed the disbanded Mountain NCIS team since their
role in the 2009 fatal shooting of a pastor who inadvertently stepped
into the middle of an undercover drug operation involving a suspected
drug dealer and admitted prostitute. A grand jury cleared the task
force of any wrongdoing but a civil jury awarded the pastor's widow
more than $2 million.
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