Report clears deputies in raid on mayor's home

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - An internal investigation has cleared the Prince George's County Sheriff's Department of wrongdoing in a controversial case last summer.

In July of 2008, Prince George's County Sheriff's deputies and SWAT teams raided the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo in a case of mistaken identity.

A SWAT team forcefully entered the home, thinking it belonged to a drug dealer. Calvo, his wife Trinity Tomsic and his mother-in-law Georgia Porter, were handcuffed for several hours while the police searched the home, and the two family dogs were shot and killed.

Sheriff Michael Jackson says the findings, which clear the officers of any wrongdoing, are consistent with what he had thought all along.

"The deputies involved effected the search warrant in a professional and exceptional manner, and no human beings (were injured) and minimal property occurred during this search warrant," Jackson says.

"My deputies did their job to the fullest extent of their abilities. I'm sorry for the impact this has had on Mayor Calvo, Ms. Tomsic and Mrs. Porter, and for the loss of their family pets. But the deputies preserved the immediate community by preventing 32 pounds of drugs from getting on the streets."

Before the raid, police intercepted a package they say contained drugs addressed to Calvo's wife.

Police have since arrested several people in the county for delivering drugs to innocent people in hopes of picking up the packages before the homeowners returned.

The police department is making "some adjustments," including working with animal control to come up with different procedures, such as using fire extinguishers, sprays, and extended poles when conducting raids in homes with animals, Jackson says.

Jackson acknowledges some people may be skeptical of police investigating their fellow officers.

"We are a professional organization and we conducted a professional investigation."

Calvo and his family may file a civil lawsuit in the case.

On Friday, Calvo released the following statement:

"By commending his deputies for their actions, the Sheriff is placing other innocent families and innocent family pets at risk. There is no excuse for the no-knock entry into our home, the killing of Payton and Chase, and the prolonged handcuffing of my mother-in-law and myself."

Calvo says the police department's allegations that he was "conducting counter surveillance" are "so ludicrous that they are embarrassing."

Calvo and his family will announce further action at a press conference on Monday.

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