Flash, bang … oops: police raid leads to lawsuit

A couple living in a Winnipeg condominium complex is suing the city over allegations that Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) officers incorrectly executed a search warrant on their unit in January 2025. According to the complaint, filed in the Court of King’s Bench, the officers rappelled down the side of the building, broke in through the glass patio door and fired a stun grenade before realizing they were in the wrong unit.

Saeid Ghavami and Shahla Shojaei, academics and researchers at the University of Manitoba, allege they were not named in the warrant and were not suspects or targets of the operation. The lawsuit claims that the police officers, referred to as "John Does," had a reasonable opportunity and duty to verify the correct building, floor, unit, and target residence before deploying tactical officers and force.

It argues that the officers forcibly entered their home "without lawful authority, reasonable grounds, consent or other legal justification."

The police operation involved using flash-bang stun grenades, which created a loud, explosive sound and intense flashes of light, smoke, and debris. The lawsuit states that Saeid was near the window when the operation occurred, and he was exposed to close-range trauma. The couple's home was left unsecured, with broken glass and debris, and they were responsible for repairs, cleaning, safety concerns, insurance issues, and the physical and psychological aftermath.

The lawsuit claims that the city and the involved WPS officers are personally liable for their actions, as well as the city for negligently causing serious psychological injury. The plaintiffs argue that the incident could have caused psychological harm regardless of the couple's background, as they are immigrants from Iran who experienced war and conflict prior to moving to Canada. They seek unspecified damages for repairs, medical and psychological treatments, and potential punitive or aggravated damages.