Johnston's sister-in-law, said she suspected police "were lying all the time."

[madmusic]

Slain woman's family: 'We just want to see the truth'
Mourners gather at service for Kathryn Johnston

By RHONDA COOK, S.A. REID
Published on: 11/27/06

Friends and family who gathered at an East Point funeral home Tuesday for the funeral of Kathryn Johnston said they just want to know the truth about the drug raid that led to the elderly woman's death.

"When this occurred, we were shocked that this could be real," said Johnston's niece, JoAnne Trawick. "I've always believed from the beginning that this was a mistake."

Commenting on revelations that the informant narcotics officers say led them to the Johnston's house is accusing the officers of asking him to lie about his role, Trawick said, "I hope he is telling the truth.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2006/11/27/1127metshoot_html.html

[madmusic]

1. At this point, Atlanta police have no good options. They're screwed.

At this point, Atlanta police have no good options. They're screwed.

Attack the informant's credibility and you admit that you conducted a high-risk, forced-entry raid based entirely on a tip from an informant you now say is unreliable. You admit you did no corroborating investigation. You admit you didn't even send an officer to check to see if the informant was right about, for example, an external surveillance system. And all of this ineptitude led to the death of an innocent woman, not to mention to three officers getting wounded.

And that's if the guy's lying about the cover-up. If he's telling the truth? Now you're talking about a major-league shit storm. If this guy's telling the truth, not only did the officers originally investigating this case lie, but the officers investigating after the shooting then lied to cover it up. That means you not only have corruption problems with your narcotics officers, but you have problems with your internal affairs unit, the cops who are charged with investigating the other officers.

more: http://www.theagitator.com/archives/027273.php#027273

[wanpete]

2. I have a strong feeling that the real truth will come out about this tragedy

and it won't be pretty for APD. I think the entire story was faked, including possibly self-inflicted gunshots, after police realized they had the wrong house and killed an elderly lady. This storm is just beginning, and it will be a major one when it's all said and done...

[slaveplanet]

3. Same MO

was used by the exact same officers against another innocent family
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=88294
They were unarmed so no shooting occured...The cops came up empty.

There have been 12 other deaths at the hands of the ATL no knock squads since the beginning of 2006.


Alphonso and Tia Howard said they will never forget the fear they felt when Atlanta police raided their home.

[Tempest]

4. All of a sudden their claim against the city looks legitimate

I hope their lawyer refiles the claim against the city and demands a jury trial if the city doesn't settle.

[madmusic]

5. No-knock under fire....

Link at the original OP article.

SWAT tactics are for real emergencies, not SOP. But a "War on Drugs" justifies sending in military style police.