Wrong Condo Raided: Stun Grenade Trauma

Saeid Ghavami and Shahla Shojaei, academics and researchers, are pursuing legal action against the City of Winnipeg and approximately twenty police officers. They allege officers broke into their condo via the balcony and deployed a stun grenade during a planned raid on January 31, 2025. The couple claims this forceful entry, which exposed Ghavami to the stun grenade at close range, caused significant trauma and hearing impairment.

The lawsuit asserts that police had a duty to confirm the correct unit but failed, mistakenly targeting the couple's residence instead of the unit below. This targeted unit was suspected of being used for drug trafficking. Ghavami and Shojaei, who are Iranian immigrants with prior experiences of war, state the raid exacerbated their past traumas.

The police operation caused damage to the condo and left the couple feeling insecure in their home. They further allege that the police's post-raid conduct exacerbated the harm, as they did not receive timely or adequate support for repairs, cleaning, or their physical and psychological recovery.

Each unnamed officer involved is personally liable, alongside the city, for allegedly failing to verify the correct unit and for the unlawful entry. The couple seeks damages for breach of privacy, Charter rights violations, loss of dignity, income loss, property damage, and medical expenses, including psychological care.