This past weekend a convoy of SUVs and Trucks drove up to a home and set up a perimeter. Men in combat armor, with guns drawn, made their way across a lawn littered with children’s toys and up to the front door. The violence was sudden and fatal. In a coordinated movement, men rush to the door and throw a stun grenade through a window. After the grenade exploded there was a shot and when the smoke cleared a seven year old child was dead.
You might expect that this was Baghdad, or some other city in Iraq or Afghanistan. It was in a war zone, but in the streets of our own City of Detroit. The Detroit Police threw a grenade into the front room of a home without warning and rushed in with guns blazing. The same Police Department that is under a Federal “probation” of sorts because of excessive use of fatal force against innocent citizens, is now throwing grenades and shooting 7 year old girls that are asleep in their own home.
The police were seeking a man suspected of homicide, but the police were not astute enough to know that there was an upper and lower flat – and they chose the wrong address. Along with the Police were camera crews, there to film a reality cop show and, if they were lucky, a snuff film.
Police experts are appalled at the excessive tactics of the Detroit Police Department, whose job is to protect innocent citizens. They had many non-violent alternatives, such as waiting to see if the suspect was leaving or entering the home. Just wait until he is isolated and can be apprehended without any risk to innocent citizens.
Killing innocent people to capture a suspect is a crime in war zones under international law and the Geneva Conventions. What do we call it when it happens in Detroit?
Of course, the usual response of police was to justify the killing but claiming that the victims had “resisted” or posed a life threatening danger. A grandmother and a sleeping 7 year old girl, just suffering the concussion of a grenade were a danger to armed and armored police? Unfortunately for the men who killed this child, there were witnesses and a video film exposing their attempted cover up.
In some cities, such as Newark, NJ, police are honored for not using deadly force even when the circumstances justify deadly force. In Detroit, officers have been given medals for using deadly force on innocent citizens. Is it any wonder why Detroiters not only distrust but also fear their Police?
FiegerTime - Geoffrey Fieger's Blog 
While I believe Fieger is a great Attorney, he should stop his stupid agendas… The police were looking for a murder suspect!! The family was harboring a MURDERER, While I suspect the investigation will show that someone in the home probably fought with police and the shot went off, the fact remains that an innocent victim died due to poor actions of her family.
Fieger should wait till the fully legal and honest investigation is completed before going on the media blitz
Half of me wants to be vindictive! The other half feels sorry for you Geoff! You can’t HONESTLY believe that you are doing the right thing! And you MUST know that you will NEVER go any further. You are using a certain population so horridly that they do not even realize that you are doing so! I am sad for that! I am MORE sad that you find it acceptable to put a child’s death ‘AT THE HANDS OF HER OWN GRANDMOTHER’ because we all know the TRUTH- in the forefront–ALL to gain notoriety for yourself! Stop it Geoff!!! I know (hope) you are better than this!! Or– well– no– you aren’t. But I DO know that Officer Joe Weekley is better than this!! HE is a good man– a stand up person who would NEVER conduct himself the way that you have! I know– WE ALL KNOW– who to believe in– It is NOT you– you are so sorry– all I can do is pray for you and laugh at your eye liner!
FIEGER YOUR A MORON. THIS IS DETROIT…DONT EVEN TRY TO COMPARE IT TO ANY OTHER CITY, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOES NOT COMPARE. YOUR A MAKE-UP WEARING MEDIA WHORE. YOUR NO BETTER THAN AN AMBULANCE CHASING SCUMBAG. BOTTOM LINE IS THE DPD TACTICS ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH HOW TO EXECUTE A WARRANT ON A FELONY MURDER SUSPECT. PERIOD!!! ITS VERY SAD THAT THE LITTLE GIRL WAS EVEN IN THE HOUSE WHICH HID A FUGITIVE IN THE FIRSTPLACE, AND ITS EVEN MORE UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU WILL TRY TO CAPITALIZE ON THE GRIEF OF THE FAMILY TO GET PRESS. GROW UP….AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO EXPLOIT SADNESS, TRY TO MAKE DETROIT A BETTER PLACE. INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS YOURSELF AIM TO BRING DETROIT DOWN AND KEEP IT THERE. I WISH I COULD GO A FEW ROUNDS WITH YOU IN A BACK ALLEY SOMEWHERE….ITS AY BETTER THAN YOU DESERVE THOUGH.
“After the grenade exploded there was a shot and when the smoke cleared a seven year old child was dead.”
Whoa Whoa Whoa there jackass! I seem to recall seeing you on the local news claiming that the shot was fired BEFORE the “flash bang” AND from outside the house. So which is it Geoff? Which theory do you support? And I use the word theory because you are incapable of allowing facts and the truth to pass through your lips. The problem with lies Mr. Fieger is that they are much more difficult to keep straight than the truth.
Tell the truth Geoff; neither you, nor any of your flunky minion associates viewed a video tape of this incident. And do you know why that is? Because only one video exists, A&E’s, and you have not seen it. The truth IS that there never was a “mystery man” that came to your office to show you a video tape of this incident. You completely fabricated that story to garner public support for your family of shithead clients.
Do you know another major flaw in your fantasy story? The fact that the Michigan State Police evidence technicians found no bullet holes on the outside of the house in question. Not very good planning on your part Geoff. You should have instructed the little girl’s father and felon, Charles Jones, to get one of his guns and fire a round into the house so at least you didn’t look like a complete idiot.
Now I know, you made another asinine public statement where you claim the MSP are covering up for the DPD. But really Geoff, do you expect people to believe that the State Police went to the house on Lillybridge and repaired the bullet hole in the window or siding? The citizens of Detroit are not stupid, as you’d like everyone to believe.
Another FACT that was missing from your many stupid public statements was that the DPD raided the wrong house and tried to cover it up afterward by getting a second search warrant for the correct flat on Lillybridge. You are claiming that not only did the DPD attempted to cover it up, but that the magistrate who signed the warrant was also in on it. Please Geoff, in the future, if you are going to flat out lie to the public about a client, whom you quite unethically stole from another attorney, please use lies that can’t be so easily refuted. The search warrant was for the entire house, including both flats. There is no “second search warrant” just like there is no “mystery man” or “second video tape”.
I am sure that you are familiar with the FOIA. The search warrant in question can be obtained by anyone and will show not only that the warrant was for both flats, but it will also show the exact time the warrant was signed. Quite honestly, the DPD did not need a search warrant to go in to the house because every occupant of that house was living there illegally anyways. That’s right Geoff, your clients, including the “sweet and innocent” grandmother, Mertilla Jones, was living in a vacant house that they commandeered illegally. They were stealing electrical power from Edison and were living in a house that they had no legal right to be in. I won’t even address the two stolen cars in “their” backyard. I’m sure that either the DPD or MSP planted the cars there to make your, squeaky clean and law abiding, clients look bad.
So, allow me to give you a quick refresher course in 4th Amendment Rights 101. If someone is living in a house illegally, they do not have a standing right to object to a search of the dwelling, nor are they protected under the 4th Amendment against a search or seizure. I understand that you’re getting up there in age and probably forgot that little tidbit of legal mumbo jumbo.
Finally, your most asinine statement to date as it relates to this case…Once again you jumped in front of a news camera and told a bold faced lie. You stated that not only did the DPD raid the wrong house, but that the innocent and law abiding Jones family had absolutely no connections to murder suspect Chauncey Owens. You stated publically that not only was the Jones family surprised to learn the murder suspect was hiding in their upstairs flat, but that none of them even so much as knew who he was. (Pardon me while I throw up in my mouth). Once again, you should have done just a wee bit more checking before you opened your big fat mouth because the FACTS are as follows:
Not only did little Aiyana’s father, Charles Jones, know murder suspect Chauncey Owens , but he drove him to the murder scene, provided him with the murder weapon, stood by while Owens murdered a 17 year old boy in cold blood, aided and abetted his escape from the scene, he then harbored him in an upstairs flat of a home he and his family were living in illegally.
You, Mr. Fieger, are a piece of garbage. I pray to God that for every life you’ve ruined with your lies over the years, that it comes back to haunt you tenfold. I also pray that the day comes when you or your family needs the help of the Detroit Police Department because you’ll be SOL.
To use your own words, I am outraged and appalled, but not surprised, that you are such a complete idiot.
Please stop polluting the Northern Michigan airwaves with your ambulance-chasing pleas for new business and lies about tort reform. The air is clean and clear up here and we’d like to keep it that way.
I am appalled at the circus you are turning the police raid into. For starters, her father is no “innocent man.” Please let me know how he justifies being at the scene of another parent’s child being murdered for no reason but is going to cry injustice when his child is murdered. Fieger, it is time for people to become accountable for the lives they lead and the trouble they create for themselves. You want a lawsuit? Sue him and his hoodlum friends for taking the life of an innocent 17 year old for the expression on his face. This is ridiculous. Aiyanna’s blood is not on the hands of the Detroit Police Department, it is on the hands of her father. You want to compare Detroit to Baghdad, you are right but not because of the police force, because of the population. A 17 year old young man should not be dead because of a look he gave someone. That is a third world country mentality. Your client is not a victim of anything. He created his lifestyle and the ramifications that come from it. This is disgusting. Maybe he should have been a law abiding citizen and not associated with people or situations that could bring harm to himself and others. Do not waste tax payers money on this nonsense. And DO NOT portray criminals as victims. Please publicize his rap sheet, and why was he not at work during the day but accompanying a murderer? I am disgusted and appalled by you more everyday. I am sure criminals would love to see you become governor, I however would prefer to have someone with morals, principles, class and intelligence run my state.
And as a side note, you state that the citizens of Detroit are afraid of the Police Department-really?? Then why is the crime rate as high as it is? Why everyday there is someone murdered there? Again, the comparison to Baghdad is a good one, but not because of the Police and their actions.
It is reminiscent of the horror and sheer terror of Waco, Texas or Ruby Ridge. Why couldn’t the police just wait and pick up the suspect another day? Was it because cameras were rolling and there needed to be some excitement and “action.” Is it another reality TV extravaganza = further stereo-typing (falsely)Detroit as a crime ridden cesspool of violence, decay and incompetence? Whether its a Jenny Jones’ ambush or a 48 Hours Episode gone awry, this type of “entertainment” is appalling. Even the Gestapo did not film its raids for fear of an ultimate accounting. It is like the movie “Network” where people are put in jeopardy of death for ratings. Thrilling, isn’t it? Not to the grieving family.
This helpless little girl deserved a chance to grow up. Her family’s grief must be unbearable. The culpable officers involved should not be in law enforcement and all negligent persons causing this tragedy should be held accountable.
I have been unable to find out any info on the results of the State Police investigation.
Just more of the “good old boy” BS.
I LIVE IN DETROIT AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED LET THE COPS BURN!!JUST FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. THE WAY THAT DETROIT IS REACTING TO CALLS,ID RATHER TAKE THINGS INTO MY OWN HANDS IM SURE THERE B NO 7YEARS OLDS HURT!! MY PRAYERS ARE OUT TO THE FAMILY. ALTOUGH THAT DOESN’T BRING HER BACK!!!!!!!
That is really sick and twisted. I hadn’t heard about the story so I found and read an archived article in “TIME” about it. And the TV crew? Why? Oh, right! People love watching REAL LIFE VIOLENCE on TV. WHY? Well, someone on YouTube analyzed the “Saw” movies about a year-and-a-half ago, pointing out they had very little plot and characterization and wondering why so many people like them and why they spawned so many sequels (I only saw the first one. Nothing special, IMO). He said he wonders if the violence and brutality of those movies is some other kind of porn, in a sense. He didn’t mean violent pornography. He meant that perhaps the violence gives people a similar visceral reaction as porn does, if that makes sense. That had never occurred to me, but it’s worth thinking about.
Julie