Pubdate: Sat, 14 Oct 2000
Source: Daily Citizen (WI)
Copyright: 2000 Conley Publishing Group, Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.citizenol.com/
Author: Ken Pritchard - GM Today Staff

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO DRUG RAID ERROR

DALTON - An internal investigation to determine why the Green Lake County Drug Task Force crashed its way into the wrong home in rural Dalton on Thursday, Oct. 5, is under way.

The Green Lake County office of corporation counsel has made a request for internal reports from the task force regarding the incident, which affected family members say terrorized them.

And the county board's Judicial and Law Enforcement Committee met in closed session late Thursday. Following the closed session, committee chairman Ronald Detjen said the discussion encompassed county liability and the potential for a civil lawsuit involving the drug task force.

Four men dressed in black brandishing handguns forced their way into the home of Jesus and Wendy Olveda of rural Dalton and forcibly placed them under restraint, according to the Olvedas.

The task force, believing it was entering a suspected drug house, kicked down the door of the wrong home.

Law enforcement officials have been advised by legal counsel not to publicly discuss the incident.

There is no public record of the break-in by law enforcement at the Olveda residence.

Dee Evans, Markesan Police Chief and head of the drug task force, said he has been advised by counsel not to comment on the Oct. 5 incident. District Attorney James Camp said he too cannot discuss it.

Charges were presented Tuesday afternoon against the Olveda's next-door neighbor, Todd Griffin, 38, W5629 Grand Marsh Road, Dalton. The content of the search warrant remains sealed by the courts. Griffin, who had been in the custody of the sheriff since Thursday, Oct. 5, was charged with manufacturing marijuana and keeping a drug house.

Traditionally, if the task force makes an arrest in Markesan, that report is filed with the Markesan Police Department. Evans said the investigation into events that occurred at the Olveda residence at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 will be presented directly to the oversight board for review.

The oversight board is made up of police chiefs from all municipalities in Green Lake County, and District Attorney James Camp.

Evans said assistant county corporation counsel Dan Sondalle has made a request for a copy of the report to the oversight board.

Evans said that once completed, the report will become a public record.
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