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RICHFIELD — A couple who claims law enforcement officers wrongfully entered their home are suing three agencies in a federal lawsuit.
Christopher and Kim Dettle, of Richfield, claim in the suit that Richfield City Police Department, Sevier County Sheriff Department, and Utah Highway Patrol broke into their home on Dec. 18 before realizing they had entered the wrong house.
The Dettles are suing the three agencies for violation of their civil rights and unlawful entry, as well as property damages and assault, among other causes of action. They claim police broke into their home while looking for a neighbor, that they did not announce their entry or have a search warrant.
According to the lawsuit, around 7:15 p.m. that evening, the couple was in their home at 258 E. 700 North watching television in bed when their pets alerted them to something in another part of the house. When Christopher Dettle got up to look he claims he heard the "loud, violent crashing sounds" of two exterior doors being broken, followed by laser dots from law enforcement officers' drawn firearms.
When Christopher Dettle was ordered by gunpoint to the floor, the suit claims, his right hand between his ring and pinkie finger was badly cut on an object.
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Imagine a team of officers with rifles ringing your doorbell not once, not twice, but five different times. That's what one Weber County man has been dealing with since he moved in, and he says it's time to stop.The officers also ordered Kim Dettle to the floor, inflaming a pre-existing back condition, they claim.
After the couple was on the floor, officers asked for Susan Davis, who the Dettles say lived nearby. After the Dettles identified themselves and officers verified their address, one of the officers said, "(Expletive), we are at the wrong house," the lawsuit reads.
Officers detained the Dettles while others went to the correct residence, after which the couple drove to the hospital for their injuries. An officer did meet the couple at the hospital, and stayed while they were treated until they returned home, they said.
The couple claims they have ongoing medical problems, as well as diagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder stemming from the incident.
"Ultimately, Mrs. Dettle was forced to remove the Christmas lights from her Christmas tree because the red dots of light resembled the laser dot sights from the officers' weapons and greatly disturbed Ms. Dettle," the lawsuit read.
They also claim that two officers had previously been to the correct address.
The couple is seeking compensatory damages of $500,000 in addition to punitive damages.
UHP said that due to the ongoing litigation, they could not comment. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office also said that they have no statement at this time. A representative from Richfield police did not return a call Thursday.
The incident is just one of several in the past year. In October, the Salt Lake City Police Department served an arrest warrant at the wrong home. A man in Marriott-Slaterville claimed in August that police had repeatedly come to his house armed and searching for a convict who had previously lived at the address.
