In a case that highlights the potential dangers of technology-driven policing, a 78-year-old Denver woman has been awarded $3.76 million in damages after her home was wrongly raided by a SWAT team. The incident, which unfolded in January 2022, was prompted by a faulty “Find My iPhone” signal that led police to believe stolen goods were present at Ruby Johnson’s residence.
Body camera footage shows Denver police officers speaking with Ruby Johnson outside her home
Johnson, a retired grandmother, was alone in her home when a SWAT team, armed with a search warrant, surrounded her property. Body camera footage released from the incident shows officers using a bullhorn to order anyone inside to exit with their hands up. Johnson, who had just stepped out of the shower, was met by heavily armed officers who explained they had a warrant to search her home.
The warrant authorized a search for a laundry list of stolen items, including a truck, firearms, drones, cash, and an iPhone. The warrant was based on information from the “Find My iPhone” app, which erroneously indicated the stolen phone was at Johnson’s address.
Despite Johnson’s insistence that she lived alone, kept her doors locked, and had no knowledge of any stolen property, the SWAT team proceeded with their search. Body camera footage shows officers searching Johnson’s home, including her attic and shed, but failing to find any of the items listed in the warrant.
Body camera footage shows Denver police officers searching inside Ruby Johnson's home
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represented Johnson in her lawsuit, argued that the Denver Police Department violated her constitutional rights by relying solely on the “Find My iPhone” data without establishing probable cause. A jury ultimately agreed, finding that the two officers who obtained the search warrant lacked sufficient evidence to justify the raid on Johnson’s home.
The $3.76 million verdict includes $1 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for technology to be misused, leading to unwarranted intrusions on individuals’ privacy and safety. The ACLU hopes that this case will encourage law enforcement agencies to exercise greater caution when relying on technology-based evidence, especially when it comes to invasive tactics like SWAT raids.
