U.S. Attorney ‘disappointed’ by lack of charges in botched drug raid
The lawyer representing the parents of the toddler disfigured during a botched drug raid in Habersham County said the U.S. Attorney was “disappointed” a grand jury declined to charge any of the officers involved.
Mawuli Davis, lawyer for Bounkham and Alecia Phonesavanh, met Tuesday with U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates to discuss possible federal charges in a case that sparked a national conversation over police militarization.
Davis, joined by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Decatur, and state Sen. Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, emerged hopeful despite the challenges inherent in a federal prosecution.
“The standard under federal law is very difficult,” Davis said. “Under federal law there had to be a specific intent.”
Nineteen-month-old Bounkham “Bou Bou” Phonesavanh suffered severe wounds to his face and chest and possible brain damage after a flash-bang grenade, tossed by a Habersham SWAT officer executing a no-knock warrant, landed in his playpen.
Last week, the Habersham grand jury, while critical of the drug investigation, concluded that criminal prosecution was not necessary.
Davis said Yates and her lieutenants were “hopeful” charges would be brought at the local level.
“We were given no timetable, just reassurance that they are looking into it,” he said.
This story will be updated later today on myajc.com.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
