HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. — A former Habersham County sheriff’s deputy faces federal charges in connection with a SWAT team raid that critically injured a toddler.
Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Jodie Fleischer confirmed the federal indictment against former deputy Nikki Autry on Wednesday morning.
The indictment says Autry convinced a judge to sign a warrant based on false information. She is accused of violating the civil rights of the people living in the house. Autry has not been arrested.
Autry resigned from the department last fall and surrendered her police certification.
The raid happened on the morning of May 28, 2014 as authorities executed a search warrant for a drug suspect.
Bounkham Phonesavah, known as "Baby Boo Boo," spent weeks in a burn unit after a SWAT team's flash grenade landed in his play pen and exploded in his face.
The Phonesavah’s attorney alleged at the time that an independent investigation showed authorities used faulty information to get the search warrant.
Habersham County’s sheriff said last summer that a confidential informant told deputies he had bought drugs at the home and they didn’t think any children lived there.
Deputies involved in the raid were cleared of criminal charges by a grand jury in October. The jury called the raid "sloppy and hurried" and "not in accordance with best practices."
The county apologized and paid the family nearly a million dollars in a settlement.
WJAX
