State police investigating SWAT raid at Worcester home

Marianne Diaz said she was awakened about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday by SWAT officers knocking down the door to her Worcester, Massachusetts, apartment as officers wearing helmets and shields burst inside and pointed “big guns” at her head, reported the Telegram & Gazette.

Prosecutors said Friday that police acted on the “best information” they had before obtaining a search warrant from a Central District Court judge, but court documents show the man police were looking for had been arrested almost two weeks earlier and listed another address as his home. The person who used to live at the apartment does have a criminal record, but Diaz and her family have never been trouble with law.

The family has not yet decided whether they will pursue charges.

She explained that she had slept undressed to combat the heat and for 10 minutes she was held at gunpoint along with her frightened 18-month-old and 7-year-old daughters before being allowed to get dressed.

“They were loud, vulgar and disgusting in behavior”, Diaz said of the authorities.

“Stop (expletive) crying and take care of your (expletive) kids”, Diaz quoted an officer saying to the Telegram.

“They twisted my arm and threw me to the ground”, Alequin said.

The family’s attorney, Hector Pineiro, said his clients’ rights were violated.

Diaz’s fiance, Bryant Alequin, said he suffered a minor back injury during the raid. “The horrific language and pointing of weapons at children can not be justified under any circumstances”, Pineiro told CBS Boston.

“I want some answers as to why they did this to my family and why they had terrorized us the way they did”, said Alequin. “We just want to find out who’s accountable”. When he asked what was happening, they shouted: ‘Shut the (expletive) up, we’ll tell you in a minute’. “I am going to let the investigation play out before I say anything”.