DRUG RAID IN CANTON ANGERS FAMILY

Police Enter House Day After Owner Dies

CANTON: When Canton police raided a northeast section home to search for
drugs Oct. 30, they said they had no idea the homeowner had died the night
before.

Members of Janet Coney's extended family doubt the claim and believe they
are owed a formal apology -- and possibly more -- for the officers'
actions, which, the family charges, included pointing guns at children and
adults, and shouting at them without immediately identifying themselves.

Police officials said yesterday that the family has yet to file an Internal
Affairs complaint. One officer said he was told that a complaint is being
prepared by the family and Canton attorney Steven Lo Dico. Lo Dico didn't
return calls for comment.

Coney's niece, Ceil C. Scott, still gets enraged when she describes the
trauma she says she and others experienced as 24 officers, including
several in SWAT-type gear, entered the house.

"They put guns to everyone and forced us onto the floor -- even the babies
from age 9 months to 5 years," Scott claims.

"Where is the line drawn when you raid a so-called drug house?" she asked.

Lt. Tim Richard, commander of the Canton police Vice and Criminal
Intelligence unit, said police raided Coney's Seventh Street Northeast home
after a three-week investigation during which undercover officers
reportedly purchased drugs at the home.

No drug charges have been filed and no drugs were found during the search,
which Richard said was conducted "with relative kid gloves" after raiders
were told the family was making funeral plans for the homeowner, who died
after about three months in the hospital.

Richard said he found no problem with police actions when he entered the
home moments after the first officers forced entry.

"We had already had information that led to a warrant from Judge (John A.)
Poulos and there had been raids at that home in the past involving arrests
for drugs," he countered.

Richard said officers had fresh information the night of the raid, and
denied that any officers were aware Coney had died.

Police confiscated a shotgun and arrested two people during the raid on
unrelated, outstanding warrants.

Sharon R. Johnson, an assistant pastor of United Bible Missionary Church in
Canton who officiated at Coney's Nov. 4 funeral and was among those held at
gunpoint, complained about how Coney's daughter, Bernita Singletary, was
searched in full view of those inside.

She said the woman's private areas were exposed during the search by a
female officer. Witnesses also said food brought to the mourners was
knocked off the table as raiders made their way through the house.

"I think some type of apology or compensation is in order. I feel like I'm
still shell-shocked any time I hear a loud noise," Johnson said.

"I know policemen have a job to do and I have several friends on the Canton
Police Department, but I don't think they should have done this when they
did. I feel strongly that the police knew Mrs. Coney had died and that
Bernita didn't live there."

Singletary was named in the search warrant but was not arrested. She said
yesterday that she lives with a sister in northeast Canton and not at her
mother's home.

She denied involvement in drug sales at the house, although she admitted
she had been charged previously with drug violations.

"There were no drugs being sold out of this house," Singletary declared.
"There's a lot of activity around here -- in the alley and on the sidewalk
- -- and why do they just want to pinpoint me?"