(Credit: KDKA)
Reporting Marty Griffin
BELLEVUE (KDKA) — A Bellevue man says the FBI, armed with assault rifles, stormed into his house.
They were apparently looking for someone who does not live there.
Now the family is filing a lawsuit.
Federal agents kicked in the doors around 5:30 a.m. in March. According to the lawsuit, 10 members of the Adams family suddenly heard breaking glass and wood and a lot of screaming.
Lights were put in their faces and lasers from high-powered rifles were pointed at their chests. According to the lawsuit, everyone thought they were about to die.
“If I would have had a gun, I would have came downstairs shooting,” Gary Adams said. “They all had their faces covered. I didn’t know what was going on.
“I would’ve started shooting and then I would be dead and probably seven or eight … members of my family would be dead.”
The lawsuit indicated the feds were after a drug suspect who hasn’t lived in the home for two years and moved out before the Adams family ever moved in.
In fact, court records show the suspect actually lives in California.
Attorneys filing the suit say this has to stop.
“Law-abiding citizens’ constitutional rights are not, cannot and should not ever be collateral damage in the government’s war on drugs,” Tim O’Brien, the family’s attorney, said.
Attorneys representing the family say this is not an isolated incident and there are lawsuits like this across the country.
They are hoping that the family will not only receive financial reward from this lawsuit, but the FBI will admit its error and create a policy change.
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