Burning Room (© Martin Barraud/Getty Images)

Family says cops caused fire by storming the wrong house

5/28/2012

Deputies in Spring Valley, Calif., are being questioned after allegedly surrounding a home, forcing a confused family out at gunpoint and causing a massive fire because they mistakenly thought an armed robbery suspect was inside. According to Willie Houston, who lives there, cops showed up during dinner and handcuffed his wife, ignoring her pleas to let her remove burning food from the stove. While outside, black smoke began billowing out of the home and officers had to use a skateboard and an ax to break windows and rescue a seven-year-old trapped upstairs with two other women. Neighbors have expressed outrage, and a sheriff's department spokeswoman said the incident is under investigation.

most recent

What do you think of this case?