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submitted 3 months ago by fpslem@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Bumbling US cops who raided a medical diagnostics center thinking it was a cannabis farm got a gun stuck to the powerful magnets of an MRI machine, a California lawsuit has alleged.

The owners of the facility are claiming damages against the Los Angeles Police Department for an operation their lawyers describe as "nothing short of a disorganized circus."

Their lawsuit details how a SWAT team swarmed Noho Diagnostic Center after the squad's leader persuaded a magistrate to issue a search warrant.

Officer Kenneth Franco drew on his "twelve hours of narcotics training" and discovered the facility was using more electricity than nearby stores, the lawsuit said.

"Officer Franco, therefore, concluded (the facility) was cultivating cannabis, disregarding the fact that it is a diagnostic facility utilizing an MRI machine, X-ray machine and other heavy medical equipment -- unlike the surrounding businesses selling flowers, chocolates and children's merchandise," the suit said.

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[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 376 points 2 months ago

It gets worse:

Instead of seeking expert advice on how to retrieve the weapon, one officer decided to activate the emergency shutdown button.

"This action caused the MRI's magnet to rapidly lose superconductivity, leading to the evaporation of approximately 2,000 liters of helium gas and resulting in extensive damage to the MRI machine," the suit said.

The officer then retrieved his gun, but left a magazine full of bullets on the floor of the MRI office, the suit says.

[-] Stamau123@lemmy.world 220 points 2 months ago

When you're never, ever, punished, eh who gives a fuck

[-] jonne@infosec.pub 113 points 2 months ago

Exactly, the city is going to be on the hook for this, at worst he'll get a talking to by the chief.

[-] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 75 points 2 months ago

I hope there are security tapes.

[-] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

California still has a 10 round magazine capacity limit for ordinary private ownership, I believe. (Last I heard the ruling striking it down was stayed).

So, did this cop negligently just leave a super illegal thing (by California legal standards) on the floor for some medical technician to eventually pick up and get legally slapped for?

[-] MehBlah@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

I get the feeling he was trying to get clear so he could deny he did it.

this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2024
982 points (99.4% liked)

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