“It breaks my heart”: How a SWAT team upended my baby’s life — and got away with it [View all]

http://www.salon.com/2014/10/10/it_breaks_my_heart_how_a_swat_team_upended_our_lives_and_got_away_with_it/



A SWAT team blew a hole in my 2-year-old's chest -- and just got off scot-free. But here's why it gets even worse

“It breaks my heart”: How a SWAT team upended my baby’s life — and got away with it
Alecia Phonesavanh
Friday, Oct 10, 2014 11:59 AM EST

My son will be 2 years old next week. He’s recovering from a total of eight surgeries, one of which was to reattach his nose to his face.

For those who don’t know, it’s been over five months since the night a SWAT team broke into the house in which we were staying. It was the middle of the night, and even though our minivan with car seats inside was parked in the driveway and our children’s toys were in the yard, the SWAT officers claimed they had no way of knowing there were kids inside. We were staying with relatives and my whole family was sleeping in one room. My husband and I, our three daughters and our baby (nicknamed “Baby Bou Bou”) in his crib.

Dressed like soldiers, they broke down the door. The SWAT officers tossed a flashbang grenade into the room. It landed in Baby Bou Bou’s crib, blowing a hole in his face and chest that took months to heal and covering his entire body with scars.

On Monday, we were devastated and heartbroken by the grand jury’s decision to not charge any of the officers involved in injuring our son. I relive that night every time I hold my son, see my daughters afraid and watch my husband in pain. Bou Bou will be 2 years old next week, and my gift to him will be my continued commitment to demand justice for what was done to him. We will not give up, we will not remain silent – we will continue to fight.