Bodycam footage from a police raid in Elyria, Ohio, was released on Tuesday after a concerned individual claimed police raided the wrong home and said a baby was injured by a flash-bang device used during the operation.
The individual, Courtney Price, stated that she was at her aunt's rented home when police broke a window near her 17-month-old son, Waylon, by using a flash-bang.
According to Price, following the raid, her child, who was already on a ventilator, was hospitalized with burns and has since been diagnosed with chemical pneumonitis "from the chemicals in the flash-bang."
In response to the incident, the city released several bodycam videos after the mayor requested the information to be made public.
Police Use Flash-Bang and Break into Wrong Home
In a shocking incident, police officers mistakenly executed a search warrant at the wrong address, leading to the use of a flash-bang and the breaking of windows and doors. The incident was captured on video from multiple angles.
One video shows officers outside the home, announcing their presence and then using a flash-bang to gain entry. Another video shows a woman being handcuffed and taken out of the home.
Another video features a woman who was handcuffed outside the home informing the police that her baby, who is on a ventilator, is inside. Eventually, the police call an ambulance for her.
The aunt of the homeowner stated that the police have searched the home multiple times for a suspect who does not live there.
In response, the Elyria Police Department released a statement asserting that the warrant was executed at the correct address. They also clarified that the flash-bangs used only produce sound and light, and do not deploy pepper gas or chemical agents.
The police department further disputed claims that the baby was injured during the incident, stating that the mother, police, and paramedics assessed the baby and found no visible injuries. They added that the mother intended to take the baby to the hospital for a pre-existing illness, but lacked a car seat for transportation, prompting the detectives to call an ambulance.
"Any allegation suggesting the child was exposed to chemical agents, lack of medical attention or negligence is not true," the statement continued.
In a statement on Jan. 15, Elyria Mayor Kevin A. Brubaker said the family's allegations against the police department are "extreme and deeply concerning."
Brubaker ordered a review of the incident with information released to the public, saying that bodycam video would be released and will continue to be released as it becomes available.
"The serious and disturbing nature of the allegations concerns all Elyrians," Brubaker said. "Our residents demand to know what occurred, and rightfully so. Thankfully, our City had the technology to record events in real time via many body-worn cameras throughout the entirety of the incident."
CBS News has reached out to the police department, the mayor and Price and is awaiting response.
