The State - News from Oct. 20, 1988

Alameda police said they were sorry for a narcotics raid in which officers smashed their way into the wrong apartment and chased a woman resident outside, throwing her to the ground and handcuffing her. “It’s an unfortunate mistake, and we apologize,” Police Capt. Bill Schmitz said. “It happened, and we’re sorry it happened.” Tonda Smith, 29, said she has hired a lawyer and plans to seek compensation for the Monday invasion of her apartment. “I was scared,” she said. “I actually believed some wild junkie had broken in, killed my son and was going to kill me.” She said the officer who pursued her into the street knocked her to the ground, kneed her and cuffed her but did not identify himself immediately as an officer. Schmitz said the officers had a warrant for an apartment across from Smith’s rear door. The address was similar, he said.