Despite a no-knock warrant by the Habersham SWAT team that threw a hand grenade into a toddler’s crib that permanently deformed the baby — yet turned up no guns nor drugs in the house — a Habersham County grand jury voted not to charge any of the law enforcement officers involved in the bumbled raid.
The baby’s nose was ripped from his face when the SWAT team tossed a stun grenade in the baby’s playpen. Bounkham “Bou Bou” Phonesavanh, 19 months old, has had multiple surgeries to reattach his nose and fix other burns. According to an incident report obtained from the Habersham sheriff’s office, deputies were told to anticipate a cache of weapons and armed guards at the home.
Despite all the damage caused to the home and baby’s face, the search turned up neither guns nor drugs inside the house. Wanis Thonetheva, who didn’t even live at the house, was arrested later without incident and charged only with possession of methamphetamine.
Mawuli Davis, the attorney for the Phonesavanh family, said the family was “devastated” to learn no criminal charges would be brought.
The 23-person grand jury heard evidence for six days before releasing their 15-page presentment.
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