The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - (MN) Grand Rapids teacher files suit claiming attack by SWAT team

Oatka · August 29, 2000, 03:15 PM

"Undem said SWAT officers, after learning of their alleged mistake, told Miskovich, ``It's a game. It's just a f****** game.''"

I wonder what would have happened if there were some CCWs in the house. Not to worry, Minnesota doesn't trust it's citizens to be armed - after all, they have these
"professionals" to protect them.

http://www.duluthnews.com/today/dnt/school.htm

Grand Rapids teacher files suit claiming attack by SWAT team
Woman says officers thought she was an actor during July 1999 drill
By David Siders
News Tribune staff writer

A Grand Rapids dance teacher has accused members of a St. Louis County SWAT team of assaulting and terrorizing her during a training drill, apparently mistaking her for an actor in the exercise.

In her suit against the city of Grand Rapids, Independent School District 318, and St. Louis and Itasca counties, Nikki Miskovich, 25, claims SWAT members in July 1999 stormed the wrong building. She alleges they mistook the Reif Center, an arts building where she works, for the high school next door.

Miskovich claims officers pointed guns at her, held her on the floor, stepped on her back and refused to identify themselves during the raid.

The public agencies were conducting a joint training exercise at Grand Rapids High School following the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colo.

SWAT officers led Miskovich and two other teachers at gunpoint from the building, said John Undem, Miskovich's attorney.

``As they're walking toward the woods,'' Undem said, ``somebody comes over and yells, `Wait a minute, wait a minute, you've got the wrong building.' ''

Miskovich is suing for more than $50,000, claiming she suffers nightmares, shakes, anxiety attacks, nausea and insomnia as a result of the incident. In Minnesota, the $50,000 figure is a formality that leaves open how much money Miskovich could seek.

Undem said Miskovich was so frightened during the incident that she prayed to God to let her quickly die.

``She thought she was going to be raped and killed,'' Undem said. ``This kid's been hurt bad.''

Undem said SWAT officers, after learning of their alleged mistake, told Miskovich, ``It's a game. It's just a f****** game.''

The other teachers involved in the incident, Ellen Rudquist and Beverly Wilson, have left the Reif Center, said Robert Cline, a student intern at the center. Neither Rudquist nor Wilson could be reached Monday for comment.

The city of Grand Rapids has denied Miskovich's claims, stating its employees were acting lawfully, and has asked for a judgment against Miskovich to pay for legal costs and attorney's fees.

The city of Grand Rapids claimed the training exercise was well publicized in the Grand Rapids area and that the director of the Reif Center, David Marty, knew about the drill.

Marty declined comment.

None of the other defendants had responded to the suit as of noon Monday.

City of Grand Rapids' attorney, Jon Iverson, declined comment. So did St. Louis County Attorney Shaun Floerke, Itasca County Attorney Jack Muhar, School District 318 Superindentent Lloyd Styrwoll and St. Louis County SWAT commander Randy Lehman.

Miskovich also declined comment.

Miskovich's husband, Robert Zuehlke Jr., has joined the lawsuit. Miskovich and Zuehlke claim their marriage has suffered as a result of Miskovich's emotional distress, Undem said.

Undem said he filed the suit more than a year after the incident because he wanted time to determine the psychological effect it had on Miskovich. The suit was filed Aug. 4 in U.S. District Court in Duluth.

David Siders can be reached at (218) 279-5535 or by e-mail:
[email protected]
-- 30 --

Here's the UPI's version: http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID=113120

SWAT team drill terrorizes dance teacher
Tuesday, 29 August 2000 13:10 (ET)

SWAT team drill terrorizes dance teacher

DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A SWAT team trying to seize control of a high school stormed a building, took a woman prisoner and held her at gunpoint pinned to the floor -- all as part of an exercise meant to improve their professional skills.

The only problem is that the St. Louis County, Minnesota, SWAT team raided
the wrong building. Instead of taking back Grand Rapids, Minn., High School, they broke into the Reif Center arts building next door and held a dance instructor prisoner.

The instructor, 25-year-old Nikki Miskovich, filed a lawsuit earlier this
month in U.S. District Court against Grand Rapids, Independent School District 318 and St. Louis and Itasca counties.

The lawsuit asks for $50,000 in damages although under Minnesota law, the figure is a formality and a judge and jury would ultimately decide how much, if anything, she should get.

Miskovich attorney John Undem said she thought the raid was legitimate and that she prayed for a quick death before learning that it was merely a drill.

"She thought she was going to be raped and killed," Undem said. "This kid's been hurt bad."

The training exercise was in July 1999 and was a response to ensure local SWAT team officials could handle any violent outbursts in their area. The exercise came three months after the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Undem said he waited slightly more than a year before formally filing the lawsuit to determine the exercise's full emotional impact on Miskovich. He notes the incident has negatively impacted her marriage and her husband, Robert Zuehlke Jr., is joining the lawsuit, seeking his own damages.

Grand Rapids city officials are disputing the lawsuit, saying they had publicized their intent to do a drill, adding that SWAT team members told Miskovich that the raid was "a game" once they learned they had raided the wrong building.

School and county officials declined to comment on the lawsuit.
--
Copyright 2000 by United Press International.

August 29, 2000, 03:15 PM	#1
Oatka Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Nevada Posts: 3,076	(MN) Grand Rapids teacher files suit claiming attack by SWAT team "Undem said SWAT officers, after learning of their alleged* mistake, told Miskovich, ``It's a game. It's just a f****** game.''"* I wonder what would have happened if there were some CCWs in the house. Not to worry, Minnesota doesn't trust it's citizens to be armed - after all, they have these "professionals" to protect them. http://www.duluthnews.com/today/dnt/school.htm Grand Rapids teacher files suit claiming attack by SWAT team Woman says officers thought she was an actor during July 1999 drill By David Siders News Tribune staff writer A Grand Rapids dance teacher has accused members of a St. Louis County SWAT team of assaulting and terrorizing her during a training drill, apparently mistaking her for an actor in the exercise. In her suit against the city of Grand Rapids, Independent School District 318, and St. Louis and Itasca counties, Nikki Miskovich, 25, claims SWAT members in July 1999 stormed the wrong building. She alleges they mistook the Reif Center, an arts building where she works, for the high school next door. Miskovich claims officers pointed guns at her, held her on the floor, stepped on her back and refused to identify themselves during the raid. The public agencies were conducting a joint training exercise at Grand Rapids High School following the April 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colo. SWAT officers led Miskovich and two other teachers at gunpoint from the building, said John Undem, Miskovich's attorney. ``As they're walking toward the woods,'' Undem said, ``somebody comes over and yells, `Wait a minute, wait a minute, you've got the wrong building.' '' Miskovich is suing for more than $50,000, claiming she suffers nightmares, shakes, anxiety attacks, nausea and insomnia as a result of the incident. In Minnesota, the $50,000 figure is a formality that leaves open how much money Miskovich could seek. Undem said Miskovich was so frightened during the incident that she prayed to God to let her quickly die. ``She thought she was going to be raped and killed,'' Undem said. ``This kid's been hurt bad.'' Undem said SWAT officers, after learning of their alleged mistake, told Miskovich, ``It's a game. It's just a f****** game.'' The other teachers involved in the incident, Ellen Rudquist and Beverly Wilson, have left the Reif Center, said Robert Cline, a student intern at the center. Neither Rudquist nor Wilson could be reached Monday for comment. The city of Grand Rapids has denied Miskovich's claims, stating its employees were acting lawfully, and has asked for a judgment against Miskovich to pay for legal costs and attorney's fees. The city of Grand Rapids claimed the training exercise was well publicized in the Grand Rapids area and that the director of the Reif Center, David Marty, knew about the drill. Marty declined comment. None of the other defendants had responded to the suit as of noon Monday. City of Grand Rapids' attorney, Jon Iverson, declined comment. So did St. Louis County Attorney Shaun Floerke, Itasca County Attorney Jack Muhar, School District 318 Superindentent Lloyd Styrwoll and St. Louis County SWAT commander Randy Lehman. Miskovich also declined comment. Miskovich's husband, Robert Zuehlke Jr., has joined the lawsuit. Miskovich and Zuehlke claim their marriage has suffered as a result of Miskovich's emotional distress, Undem said. Undem said he filed the suit more than a year after the incident because he wanted time to determine the psychological effect it had on Miskovich. The suit was filed Aug. 4 in U.S. District Court in Duluth. David Siders can be reached at (218) 279-5535 or by e-mail: [email protected] -- 30 -- Here's the UPI's version: http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID=113120 SWAT team drill terrorizes dance teacher Tuesday, 29 August 2000 13:10 (ET) SWAT team drill terrorizes dance teacher DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A SWAT team trying to seize control of a high school stormed a building, took a woman prisoner and held her at gunpoint pinned to the floor -- all as part of an exercise meant to improve their professional skills. The only problem is that the St. Louis County, Minnesota, SWAT team raided the wrong building. Instead of taking back Grand Rapids, Minn., High School, they broke into the Reif Center arts building next door and held a dance instructor prisoner. The instructor, 25-year-old Nikki Miskovich, filed a lawsuit earlier this month in U.S. District Court against Grand Rapids, Independent School District 318 and St. Louis and Itasca counties. The lawsuit asks for $50,000 in damages although under Minnesota law, the figure is a formality and a judge and jury would ultimately decide how much, if anything, she should get. Miskovich attorney John Undem said she thought the raid was legitimate and that she prayed for a quick death before learning that it was merely a drill. "She thought she was going to be raped and killed," Undem said. "This kid's been hurt bad." The training exercise was in July 1999 and was a response to ensure local SWAT team officials could handle any violent outbursts in their area. The exercise came three months after the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Undem said he waited slightly more than a year before formally filing the lawsuit to determine the exercise's full emotional impact on Miskovich. He notes the incident has negatively impacted her marriage and her husband, Robert Zuehlke Jr., is joining the lawsuit, seeking his own damages. Grand Rapids city officials are disputing the lawsuit, saying they had publicized their intent to do a drill, adding that SWAT team members told Miskovich that the raid was "a game" once they learned they had raided the wrong building. School and county officials declined to comment on the lawsuit. -- Copyright 2000 by United Press International.