Female Files Lawsuit Against LAPD, Claiming Unjustified SWAT Operation Resulted from Name Mix-up
A Disturbing Raid Gone Wrong: Woman Suing LAPD for Alleged Civil Rights Violations
In a startling turn of events, Danine Dean, a resident of Fox Hills, Los Angeles, is taking legal action against the city and its Police Department, following an incident last year where she was awakened, held at gunpoint, and handcuffed by a SWAT team. This alarming incident is part of a series of lawsuits against the LAPD, accusing the department of civil rights violations during questionable home raids.
The LAPD has reportedly settled at least ten such cases since 2018, totaling over $2 million according to public records analyzed by The Times.
On the fateful night of November 13, 2023, around 4 a.m., Danine was alone in her house, while her son stayed at his father's house. As per her lawsuit, which was filed this month in federal court in Los Angeles, she was startled by a loud pounding on her door, only to open it to find assault rifles aimed at her. She was escorted outside, dressed in her pajamas and barefoot, and was detained for over an hour as the SWAT team searched her home.
In an interview with The Times, Danine shared her traumatic experience. She recalled three detectives arriving, claiming there had been robberies in the area. They led her back inside and sat her down before commencing a thorough search of her apartment, emptying every drawer and compartment. However, it remains unclear why the LAPD was operating in that particular area.
The detectives showed her a picture of a young Black male and inquired whether she had ever seen him. Despite not recognizing the man, they shared a common last name. "They told me the person's name was Devante Dean, and we had the same last name, so it happened to be a coincidence," Danine said, "My last name isn't even all that uncommon."
Intriguingly, the detectives then began questioning whether her son could have known the man or if he was one of his friends. This line of inquiry left Danine bewildered, as it seemed to contradict their initial assumption that Devante Dean was related to her.
After an hour, Danine's lawsuit states, an officer informed her that the search was a mistake. Disappointed with the lack of follow-up from the department, she decided to take the matter to court. A spokesperson from the city attorney's office, representing the LAPD in the case, declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Danine, a psychologist, has lived in her house for more than 23 years and boasts an unblemished criminal record. After moving to the historically Black neighborhood of Culver City's Fox Hills, she and her family chose this neighborhood because they wanted to feel safe surrounded by people who resembled them.
Since the incident, Danine says she has been living on edge. Her children have yet to return to the house they've called home for 23 years due to their fear of visiting. She is now contemplating a move. "I don't think I can live here for very much longer. I've been completely interrupted," she lamented. "It makes me very sad. I guess that's all I can say, especially knowing that I built so many memories here with my kids and with my family."
The lawsuit names Det. Carlos Carrillo as the officer "who appeared to be in charge" of the raid that night. Carrillo did not respond to a message sent to his department email.
Danine and her attorney, Ian Wallach, have yet to access the affidavit behind the search warrant, which would detail the probable cause used to justify the actions of the police. "Normally, you can get access to the affidavit behind the search warrant. We've not been able to do that," Wallach said. "We call the judges chambers, we've gone to the clerk's office, we've gone everywhere and we're still not able to get to the affidavit that would say why this happened. I fear the reason this happened is because Danine Dean sounds like Devante Dean."
Times staff writer Libor Jany contributed to this report.
Further Reading
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The FBI mistakenly raided her Atlanta home. Now the Supreme Court will hear her lawsuit
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- Danine Dean, a psychologist from California's Los Angeles, is suing the city and its Police Department (LAPD) over an incident last year where she was wrongfully targeted during a SWAT team raid in her Fox Hills residence.
- The lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles this month alleges that Danine was awakened, held at gunpoint, and handcuffed by the LAPD, which is part of a series of lawsuits against the department over civil rights violations.
- Danine is represented by attorney Ian Wallach, who has expressed concerns over the LAPD's concealment of the affidavit behind the search warrant, stating it could justify the actions of the police.
- Further complicating the case, the detectives who conducted the raid questioned Danine regarding a young Black male with a common last name, causing confusion and contradiction over the initial assumption of a family tie.
- Among the general news and crime-and-justice sections, reports of disturbing raids gone wrong persist, with Danine's story adding to the growing problem and urging for increased scrutiny and accountability in law enforcement operations.
