In Denver, a family is at the center of a troubling incident involving law enforcement. Kirsty Shelton was at home with her daughters and their grandmother when a SWAT team mistakenly targeted their apartment while searching for a suspect who lived in a neighboring unit. According to a lawsuit filed against the Denver Police Department, Shelton’s family was ordered out of their home at gunpoint, despite their assurances that the officers had the wrong apartment.
The situation escalated when officers entered the apartment and confronted Shelton’s young daughters, ages 5 and 6, who were understandably frightened. Body camera footage of the June 2023 event shows one officer trying to reassure the girls, but they responded with screams. The officers then placed the entire family, including a relative who had just exited the shower, into a locked police vehicle for about an hour while they continued their search.
The lawsuit claims police knew they were looking for a suspect who lived in apartment 307, not 306, where the Shelton family resided. Despite this knowledge, the police’s after-action report stated that the family was evacuated for their safety, which the lawsuit contests. Shelton has described the traumatic impact of the incident on her family, leading them to seek extensive counseling.
While the police promised an investigation into their actions, Shelton argues that they have failed to provide any substantial information or acknowledgment of the raid, leaving her family feeling ignored and unsettled. She expressed frustration about the lack of accountability, stating, “They continue to pretend that this terrifying raid never happened.”
Two attorneys representing the Shelton family have raised concerns that some police officers did not document their entry into the family’s apartment during the search for the alleged suspect, who was ultimately arrested just hours later in a unit directly across from the Shelton residence.
The lawsuit is filed under Colorado’s 2020 police reform law, which limits the ability of officers to evade lawsuits on the grounds of qualified immunity, as is possible in federal cases. It alleges that multiple officers violated the family’s constitutional rights and subjected them to excessive force.
Experts who specialize in tactical police operations have noted that entering the wrong location is rare, thanks to improved training and planning. However, when mistakes do occur, officers cannot simply retreat; they must ensure that the area is secure for everyone’s safety.
The entire incident raises questions about police procedures and the need for accountability when mistakes are made. As the legal proceedings continue, the hope is that this case will lead to better practices and safeguards to prevent similar situations in the future.
