The Georgia police officers responsible for injuring an infant during a raid gone horribly wrong have dodged criminal charges, officials say.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the May raid on a Corneila, Ga. home by Habersham County SWAT team members left the then-19-month-old Bounkham "Bou Bou" Phonesavanh severely disfigured after they accidentally threw a flash grenade into his playpen. His mother, Alecia Phonesavanh, said the ensuing blast "blew open [her son's] face and his chest."
The raid was organized to find Wanis Thometheva, who was wanted on methamphetamine distribution charges. No drugs or weapons were discovered, and the 30-year-old was eventually arrested at another home. Despite the family's suffering, WSBTV says that the country refuses to pay for the child's medical expenses:
Habersham County’s attorney provided the following statement, saying: The question before the board was whether it is legally permitted to pay these expenses. After consideration of this question following advice of counsel, the board of commissioners has concluded that it would be in violation of the law for it to do so.
[via Gawker, WSBTV and Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
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