Ottawa County, deputies sued for raiding wrong home

Tuesday, July 12th 2005, 1:02 pm

By: News On 6

MIAMI, Okla. (AP) -- A Miami woman is suing Ottawa County and eight county deputies for breaking down the door of her apartment while serving a search warrant for the apartment across the hall from her.

Carolina Ann Diaz says the deputies knocked loudly, then broke down the door as she tried to open it. She says she was forced to the floor and handcuffed as her infant son cried.

The lawsuit doesn't ask for a specific amount of monetary but asks for compensatory and punitive damages.

It names detectives Bob Ernst and Dusty Goforth and deputies Delmer Burris, Robert Cook, Rory Hallett, Steve Puckett, Gary Smith and Joey Stites.

When the deputies realized they were in the wrong apartment they went across the hall and served the warrant on Johnelle Petty. Petty was arrested after marijuana was found inside the apartment.