Pubdate: Sat, 25 Nov 2000
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
Copyright: 2000 PG Publishing
Contact:  34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Fax: (412) 263-2014
Feedback: http://www.post-gazette.com/contact/letters.asp
Website: http://www.post-gazette.com/
Author: Joel Rosenblatt, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Note: Drug Raid articles: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm

DA'S OFFICE APOLOGIZES FOR GETTING ADDRESS WRONG ON DRUG RAID

A drug enforcement unit supervised by District Attorney Stephen A Zappala 
Jr.'s office has reimbursed and apologized to a Clairton man who had his 
door broken down last week and a drug raid was conducted at the wrong house.

The man, 76-year-old Wesley Neal, of Halcomb Avenue, said he has had a 
headache since the incident.

Neal said he was watching television in his home at about 5 p.m. on Friday, 
when police broke down his door, pointed guns at him, and told him to get 
on the floor.

"I said, 'Get down for what?' " Neal said. "I knew I hadn't done anything."

He said the agents quickly realized they had the wrong house, apologized, 
and asked Neal if he was hurt. Neal complained of chest pain that extended 
from his one shoulder to his fingers, and said members of the district 
attorney's narcotics enforcement team left a business card with a phone 
number. They continued the raid two doors down Halcomb, where Neal said he 
has noticed a lot of traffic. "It's wide open whatever they're doing," he 
observed.

Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said he could 
not comment on details of the case or on the result of the raid.

"We apologized to the gentleman, we fixed the damage, and we gave him a new 
door," he said.

The new door cost $260, Neal said. He told police he will see a doctor today.

The drug agents did nothing wrong, Neal added, but he has retained attorney 
Joseph M. Gaydos of White Oak.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry F