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Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts) Wed Feb 1, 2012, 10:07 AM Feb 2012

FBI apologizes to Fitchburg woman after using a chainsaw on her front door. [View all]

FITCHBURG, Mass.—The FBI is apologizing to a Fitchburg woman after cutting her door open with a chainsaw and pointing their guns at her during a raid last week.

It turns out agents had the wrong apartment, and were actually after the other tenant on the floor of the multi-unit building who is suspected of dealing drugs.

Judy Sanchez says she was terrified last Thursday when she awoke to heavy footsteps in the stairwell and walked to her kitchen in time to see a chainsaw blade cut through her door.

She says she was held face down on the floor at gunpoint for at least 30 minutes. Her 3-year-old daughter, meanwhile, cried in another room

Sanchez says she and her daughter now have trouble sleeping.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/02/01/fbi_apologizes_to_fitchburg_woman_after_mistake/

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FBI apologizes to Fitchburg woman after using a chainsaw on her front door. [View all] Ichingcarpenter Feb 2012 OP

Did this image come to mind for anyone else on reading the subject line? slackmaster Feb 2012 #1

or this Blue_Tires Feb 2012 #7

I'm sure the Feds indentified themselves first. Still ... Auggie Feb 2012 #10

I'm glad for your concern Ichingcarpenter Feb 2012 #19

Yes, horrible ideal for the family Auggie Feb 2012 #22

We have to laugh, otherwise we might be crying and in tears instead nolabels Feb 2012 #58

Im pretty sure there have been many quakerboy Feb 2012 #72

"FBI and youre under arrest." as they stand over her with a chainsaw. Kablooie Feb 2012 #50

Yup Renew Deal Feb 2012 #20

That one was the first thing that popped into my mind. BlueIris Feb 2012 #31

You and your common sense! tech_smythe Feb 2012 #40

I miss the good old days when the Boston FBI branch was answerable to Whitey Bulger, too. n/t hughee99 Feb 2012 #65

lawsuit Lint Head Feb 2012 #2

Absolutely. I imagine that family might just get enough to be able to buy a house and get out of MADem Feb 2012 #16

NOPE. Sovereign immunity. /nt TheMadMonk Feb 2012 #42

That can be easily trumped by the Federal Tort Claims Act. I think she has a case. MADem Feb 2012 #54

I hope that apology comes wrapped in a multi-million dollar cheque /nt dickthegrouch Feb 2012 #3

Do they even replace the door? FarCenter Feb 2012 #4

Local news said they offered to repair all the damage and apologized. MADem Feb 2012 #17

Yes ... the owner of the property littlewolf Feb 2012 #38

What does she need a door for? MattSh Feb 2012 #53

Correct, what does she need a door for? RC Feb 2012 #59

+1,000,000 freshwest Feb 2012 #8

I can see some money because they did screw up but not sure it should be more than cstanleytech Feb 2012 #44

Yeah, it's difficult to overstate how traumatic it must have been Blue_Tires Feb 2012 #57

"I'd yell back "Bull-SHIT! The FBI doesn't chainsaw people's doors!" Except clearly they do as this cstanleytech Feb 2012 #64

Charming, simply charming...... Sherman A1 Feb 2012 #5

Next, will be driving a tank through the side of a building and then RKP5637 Feb 2012 #6

Me thinks they are working up to the drone strikes in this country. RC Feb 2012 #60

Even if someone is a drug dealer, is this really necessary? Nikia Feb 2012 #9

Chainsaw prevents booby trapped door from exploding when you kick it in. No defense, just fact. TalkingDog Feb 2012 #11

Don't Chainsaws React Rather Badly to Nails and Other Hard Metal Bits? AndyTiedye Feb 2012 #27

Probably use the same kind of chain fireman use for roof ventilation. bluesbassman Feb 2012 #32

Just glad no agents were harmed. raouldukelives Feb 2012 #12

LOL Cal Carpenter Feb 2012 #14

This sort of crap Yo_Mama Feb 2012 #13

Police forces do this all the time - then say oops sorry Smilo Feb 2012 #15

If only this poor woman A Simple Game Feb 2012 #18

+10 RC Feb 2012 #61

This same kind Doc Holliday Feb 2012 #21

And the 92 Year Old Woman in Atlanta AndyTiedye Feb 2012 #28

I dont think that atlanta one is comparable because in that case the police if I recall got caught cstanleytech Feb 2012 #46

The woman's family has been awarded damages, don't know how much though. n/t RebelOne Feb 2012 #66

Was that Tuttle or Buttle? progressoid Feb 2012 #23

Good thing she didn't have a dog Cherchez la Femme Feb 2012 #24

She did have a dog--they ordered her to hold it. MADem Feb 2012 #55

Then thank god it was a puppy Cherchez la Femme Feb 2012 #63

America is not a police state. Repeat... Gregorian Feb 2012 #25

The agents in this case are yellow cowards. Dawson Leery Feb 2012 #26

30 minutes??? How long does it take? ... MarkCharles Feb 2012 #29

More detail she had a dog, picture of door, 3yr old daughter Ichingcarpenter Feb 2012 #30

Get a lawyer. They will settle very quickly. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #33

The FBI is still headed by a Bush appointee Ichingcarpenter Feb 2012 #34

Probably even worse then. Snake Alchemist Feb 2012 #35

sadly, agree with you. marasinghe Feb 2012 #68

FBI = Fucked Up Bunch of Idiots solarman350 Feb 2012 #36

Legalize It! slay Feb 2012 #37

In every one of these cases, there should be a detailed investigation, and every officer petronius Feb 2012 #39

In any organization your gonna have mistakes happen though as for the firing aspect I believe cstanleytech Feb 2012 #48

Mistakes have consequences, and when your 'mistake' produces the equivalent of petronius Feb 2012 #49

Your rushing ahead without thinking and that way leads to things like cstanleytech Feb 2012 #51

But the 'drug dealer' deserves the PTSD for his medical marijuana, right? saras Feb 2012 #41

Huh? The guy next door wasn't selling pot. MADem Feb 2012 #67

Shouldn't they at least be watching the apt they're getting ready to chainsaw through beforehand? bloomington-lib Feb 2012 #43

this points to how rubber stamped littlewolf Feb 2012 #45

Chainsaw? grantcart Feb 2012 #47

exactly what I was thinking eyewall Feb 2012 #52

Remember, law enforcement (even on the federal level) Blue_Tires Feb 2012 #56

In Al Pacino's Scarface eyewall Feb 2012 #62

i agree; the college grad variety of pig, appears to have been sold on the 'life imitates art' meme. marasinghe Feb 2012 #69

Law Enforcement at all levels will keep doing this, and one day MicaelS Feb 2012 #70

what about the door - and counseling for the children? nt arely staircase Feb 2012 #71