FAMILY OF MEXICAN SLAIN BY TEXAS POLICE FILES SUIT

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Family and friends of an illegal Mexican immigrant shot
and killed by police during a botched drug bust sued the city of Houston
Tuesday. The suit seeks unspecified damages in the death of Pedro Oregon
Navarro, who was shot 12 times -- nine times in the back -- when six police
officers burst into his Houston apartment without a warrant in search of
drugs on July 12.

``We are making allegations against the city of Houston that policies and
practices have failed... particularly in the recruiting, hiring and
training of officers,'' attorney Richard Mithoff told a news conference.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, also names the now-fired police
officers as defendants.

They entered Oregon's apartment without a legal warrant after an informant,
drunk and on cocaine, told them he bought drugs there.

One of the officers apparently fired his gun accidentally, wounding another
officer in the shoulder. Apparently thinking the shot came from Oregon,
police opened fire with 33 rounds.

A search of the apartment found no drugs and an autopsy found no trace of
any in Oregon's body. His friends said the 22-year-old landscaper from the
Mexican state of Michoacan did not drink, smoke or use drugs.

Houston Police Chief C.O. Bradford fired the officers involved, saying the
incident was an ``egregious'' case of official misconduct. But a Harris
County grand jury indicted only one of them on a misdemeanor trespassing
charge.

The grand jury's decision triggered loud protests from Oregon's family and
others. FBI Director Louis Freeh visited the family last week and promised
a thorough investigation.

Oregon came to the United States illegally eight years ago. His mother,
brother and sister live here now, along with two children he had with two
different women.

Mithoff previously offered $35 million to settle the case but got no
response from the city.

``This family came to this country to seek a better way of life, to seek
justice and... I intend to see that this country does not fail them,'' he
said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski