Breaking down the wrong door may very well have its consequences. Just ask the Seattle Police. They were sued last month for breaking down a woman’s door believing it was someone’s home. As one can imagine, the poor woman traumatized by the event was found in her kitchen, hysterical. The lawsuit alleged negligence and a violation of the woman’s constitutional rights to be free from unlawful searches and seizures. There was no basis, or justification, for the officers to enter her home; they allegedly acted recklessly, the suit claims, and their actions put the woman in mortal fear for her life. The officers apparently elected to enter the home because they were convinced that there was a report of someone attempting to jump or push someone else out of a fourth-floor window, amounting to a life-threatening emergency — arguably, an exception to the warrant requirement for entry into the apartment without permission. In other words, in legal parlance, ‘exigent circumstances’. It shall be seen what happens now that the suit has been filed. If one were the betting type, money would be on the side that it is likely that there will be an out of court settlement, which includes, of course, a clause that the settlement was reached without the Seattle Police admitting responsibility or liability for their ‘wrongful’ actions.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
