Fort Worth police chief apologizes to widow after department mistakenly detained her, raided her home over a year ago
Nelda Price asks for no-knock raids to be reduced or done away with. Chief Neil Noakes said such raids now need approval by a deputy chief or higher-ranking officer. Author: Matt Howerton Updated: 10:09 PM CDT April 14, 2021
FORT WORTH, Texas Nelda Price received something Wednesday that she s been waiting more than a year for, a handshake, and an apology from Fort Worth s top cop.
It came on the heels of a WFAA report that detailed how Price s home was the target of a no-knock drug raid fueled by bad intel.
The outside of Nelda Price s Fort Worth home.
The approved warrant reads that knocking “would be futile, dangerous or otherwise inhibit the investigation.” However, the raid came up empty. Police didn’t find drugs, guns, or money.
“When we stood up, the police were already coming to our front door,” Nelda Price told WFAA. “…It was just horrible.”
Price is still seeking answers from Fort Worth police and city officials for reasons why her home was targeted a year ago. She and her husband John owned the home for at least 20 years.
Price sued the City of Fort Worth at the end of last year for excessive force, negligence, and violation of her rights.
Price said he is “extremely humbled”, but, “for police, it’s not about individuals, it’s about the team”. He said there is no one event he is most proud of, but the moments where he was able to get everyone to focus on a clear purpose were highlights. “It may seem like Canterbury’s had ten years of milestone events, but I’m proudest of the ability for police to unite. “The public are the police, and the police are the public, that sense of unity is really special.” Price said other Government and partner agencies are also a part of that.