In October 2023, a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) raid on a Van Nuys medical imaging business, NoHo Diagnostic Center, went awry, resulting in an officer’s unsecured rifle being pulled into an MRI machine. The business was mistakenly targeted by the police, who believed it was operating as a front for an illegal marijuana cultivation site. The incident has now become the subject of a federal lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, the LAPD identified NoHo Diagnostic Center as a possible illegal pot operation due to several factors: tinted windows, security cameras, high electricity usage, and a noticeable cannabis odor. However, the police failed to realize that the marijuana smell was likely coming from a nearby shopping center and that the high electricity usage was typical for a medical facility running MRI machines and other equipment. Furthermore, the tinted windows were standard for patient privacy, not to conceal illegal activities.

Despite their suspicions, the raid did not result in the discovery of any marijuana, cultivation equipment, or criminal activity. No arrests were made, but the LAPD's actions caused significant damage to the diagnostic center.

The lawsuit was filed on September 18, 2023, naming the city of Los Angeles, the LAPD, and several individual officers as defendants. NoHo Diagnostic Center claims the raid violated its constitutional rights and seeks unspecified compensatory damages. The suit criticizes the LAPD for what it describes as a chaotic and poorly managed operation. "The whole operation was nothing short of a disorganized circus, with no apparent rules, procedures, or even a hint of coordination," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also alleges that one of the LAPD officers involved, Officer Kenneth Franco, provided false statements to obtain the search warrant for the October 12 raid. Franco, a 15-year veteran of the LAPD with over a decade of experience in narcotics enforcement, reportedly conducted surveillance on NoHo Diagnostic several times throughout 2023. He claimed that the center’s high electricity consumption and other observations were indicative of a marijuana cultivation site. However, the lawsuit points out that Franco overlooked critical facts, such as the energy usage being related to medical machinery and the window tinting being installed to protect patient privacy.

The raid took place on October 18, 2023, when Franco and other LAPD officers arrived at NoHo Diagnostic Center and detained the only employee present at the time. During the search, an officer entered the MRI room holding a rifle with an unsecured strap, despite a visible warning sign on the door cautioning against bringing metal objects near the powerful magnetic field of the MRI machine. The warning included images of prohibited items like scissors, keys, and other metal objects.

Once inside, the MRI’s magnetic force immediately attracted the officer’s unsecured rifle, pulling it toward the machine and securing it to the device. Instead of asking for help from the employee on-site, the officer decided to activate a sealed emergency button on the MRI machine, a mechanism designed to be used only in cases of life-threatening emergencies, such as fire evacuations or patient safety risks.

The activation of the emergency button caused the release of approximately 2,000 liters of helium gas, severely damaging the MRI machine and rendering it inoperable. According to the lawsuit, the officer could have avoided the situation by simply asking the employee for assistance or following the MRI room’s posted safety guidelines.

After the incident, the officer retrieved his rifle, this time properly wearing the strap over his shoulder, as safety procedures dictate. However, he left the rifle's magazine, which was fully loaded with bullets, lying on the floor of the MRI room.

As of now, neither the LAPD nor the attorneys for NoHo Diagnostic Center have commented on the pending lawsuit. The lawsuit has drawn attention due to the significant damage caused during the raid and the lack of evidence supporting the police's initial suspicions.

The medical center is seeking compensation for the damage to its property and the violation of its constitutional rights.

Reference:

1.Schwebke, S., & Gqlshare. (2024b, September 28). LAPD officer lost rifle to MRI device during bungled raid, lawsuit alleges. Daily News. https://www.dailynews.com/2024/09/28/lapd-officer-lost-rifle-to-mri-device-during-bungled-raid-lawsuit-alleges/

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)