Louisiana deputies storm the wrong house with search warrant

LAKE CHARLES, La. – A Louisiana sheriff has apologized to the pastor and retired schoolteacher whose home was stormed by officers searching the wrong house for a wanted man.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said his office is investigating why the search warrant had the incorrect address.

“We just should not have been there,” Mancuso said. “We’re just wrong.”

The American Press reports deputies were looking for a 25-year-old wanted on domestic abuse battery charges. Instead, deputies went Tuesday to the home of 79-year-old pastor Herman Weston and his wife Carol, who live with a granddaughter and her 3-week-old baby.

Carol Weston said officers stormed the house with their guns drawn. She said she was handcuffed and walked to the street corner, with no explanation. Herman Weston said he was “totally embarrassed” by the incident.

“I can’t just let this go with an apology because it was definitely wrong,” he said. “It goes far beyond that. I could have lost my life.”

Mancuso said he met privately Wednesday with the Westons to apologize.

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Information from: American Press, http://www.americanpress.com