From: clarinews #0 @clarinet.com (AP) Internet Re: Feds Admit Shooting Homeowner Path: bbs!whiting!ddsw1!library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!uunet!looking!bass!clarinews From: clarinews@clarinet.com (AP) Newsgroups: clari.local.california,clari.news.law.drugs,clari.news.issues.civil_rights,clari.news.law.police Subject: Feds Admit Shooting Homeowner Keywords: U.S. news and features Message-ID: Date: Thu, 3 Mar 94 6:40:09 PST Expires: Thu, 24 Mar 94 6:40:09 PST References: Distribution: clari.apo Lines: 26 Approved: aaron@clarinet.com Copyright: 1994 by The Associated Press, R X-Supersedes: ACategory: usa Slugword: Botched-Raid ANPA: Wc: 250/0; Id: V0068; Src: ap; Sel: -----; Adate: 03-03-N/A; Ver: 0/2 Codes: APO-1110 SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The government has taken responsibility for shooting an innocent homeowner wrongly suspected of being a drug dealer. How much it will pay for the mistake must still be decided. Donald L. Carlson, 42, was critically wounded early on Aug. 26, 1992, when federal drug agents took a battering ram to the front door of his suburban home while others stormed the back door under cover of a concussion grenade. ``It is now abundantly clear that Mr. Carlson was wholly innocent,'' U.S. Attorney Alan D. Bersin said in a statement. ``The system did fail. ... We must be accountable to Mr. Carlson for the awful consequences visited upon him.'' Agents from the U.S. Customs Service and Drug Enforcement Administration blamed the raid that turned up no drugs on an unreliable informant, who has since been arrested on charges he provided false leading to two raids. Carlson was shot in the chest, arm and leg, suffering lasting damage to his respiratory system, arm and shoulder, said his lawyer Jerry Coughlan. Carlson is suing for $20 million. A hearing is scheduled for March 14. Bersin said the government would try to settle the case. If a settlement is not reached, the lawsuit is scheduled for trial Sept. 6. Coughlan declined to comment in detail because of settlement negotiations. ``I agree with one thing for sure, that the government is liable,'' Coughlan said.