WARRANT FOR DAVIS DRUG RAID WAS VALID, JUDGE RULES

A judge ruled Friday that a warrant permitting a drug raid at the
North Richland Hills home of true crime writer Barbara Davis in 1999
was valid. Davis's son, Troy Davis, 25, was killed by police during
the raid. Her attorneys had filed a motion to suppress the search and
arrest warrant from being used as evidence in her drug possession
trial. Senior state District Judge C.C. "Kit" Cooke ruled against the
motion.

No date has been scheduled for Barbara Davis's trial. The warrant,
issued by state District Judge Sharen Wilson in December 1999, states
that police suspected the two of growing "a substantial amount of
marijuana."

Prosecutor Betty Arvin of the Tarrant County district attorney's
office said she is pleased with the ruling. Attorneys for Barbara
Davis had argued in the motion to suppress that police had no grounds
for the raid. Bill Lane of Fort Worth, Barbara Davis' attorney, could
not be reached Friday to comment. The raid and shooting occurred Dec.
15, 1999, when 17 tactical team officers raided the house.

Police said Troy Davis was pointing a loaded 9 mm pistol at officers
when he was shot by tactical team member Allen Hill. Barbara Davis
has said that her son was not armed and that police placed the gun
near her son's body. Police said they found three marijuana plants
and enough of the drug gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, to make 600
doses.

Police also found 16 guns, all legal, authorities said. In
connection with the raid, Barbara Davis, 50, is charged with
possession of controlled substance, 4 ounces to 200 grams.

The district attorney's office has dropped a possession of controlled
substance/marijuana charge against her.

Barbara Davis and her attorneys have said that Troy Davis had a
weapon in his room because his mother had received death threats
related to her writing. She has also said that the raid was improper
because it was based on a tip from a disgruntled relative.

A Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict North Richland Hills
police officer Allen Hill in the shooting. He has resigned from the
Police Department.