The Patriot Post® · GA County Refuses to Help Child SWAT Injured in Raid

During a drug raid in Habersham County, Georgia, earlier this year, 19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavanh was asleep in his crib. A flash-bang grenade was inadvertently tossed into his crib by the SWAT team and it went off, severely injuring the child. No drugs or weapons were found in the house, and the SWAT team didn’t locate the suspect they were supposedly seeking. After months of hospital recovery, young Bounkham was able to go home, but now Habersham County refuses to help with his rising medical bills. The county’s attorney issued a statement, saying, “The question before the board was whether it is legally permitted to pay these expenses. After consideration of this question following advice of counsel, the board of commissioners has concluded that it would be in violation of the law for it to do so.” So the story isn’t just one of a law enforcement screw up, but of a cold and callous response from a government that refuses to take responsibility for its use of authority.