Pubdate: Tue, 17 Nov 1998
Source: Wire: Reuters
Copyright: 1998 Reuters Limited.
Author: Jeff Franks

FAMILY OF MEXICAN SLAIN BY TEXAS POLICE FILES SUIT

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Family and friends of an illegal Mexican immigrant
shot and killed by police during a botched drug bust sued the city of
Houston Tuesday.

The suit seeks unspecified damages in the death of Pedro Oregon
Navarro, who was shot 12 times -- nine times in the back -- when six
police officers burst into his Houston apartment without a warrant in
search of drugs on July 12.

``We are making allegations against the city of Houston that policies
and practices have failed... particularly in the recruiting, hiring
and training of officers,'' attorney Richard Mithoff told a news conference.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, also names the now-fired
police officers as defendants.

They entered Oregon's apartment without a legal warrant after an
informant, drunk and on cocaine, told them he bought drugs there.

One of the officers apparently fired his gun accidentally, wounding
another officer in the shoulder. Apparently thinking the shot came
from Oregon, police opened fire with 33 rounds.

A search of the apartment found no drugs and an autopsy found no trace
of any in Oregon's body. His friends said the 22-year-old landscaper
from the Mexican state of Michoacan did not drink, smoke or use drugs.

Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford fired the officers involved, saying
the incident was an ``egregious'' case of official misconduct. But a
Harris County grand jury indicted only one of them on a misdemeanor
trespassing charge.

The grand jury's decision triggered loud protests from Oregon's family
and others. FBI Director Louis Freeh visited the family last week and
promised a thorough investigation.

Oregon came to the United States illegally eight years ago. His
mother, brother and sister live here now, along with two children he
had with two different women.

Mithoff previously offered $35 million to settle the case but got no
response from the city.

``This family came to this country to seek a better way of life, to
seek justice and... I intend to see that this country does not fail
them,'' he said.

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Checked-by: Rich O'Grady