I ‘Stood My Ground’ — but It Was the Police Raiding My House

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One morning in September 2020, I woke as much as the sound of glass shattering. My first thought was: Somebody is breaking into my home. It was round 8 a.m., however it felt just like the midnight as a result of we had blackout curtains. My daughter, who was 11, had spent that night time at a buddy’s home, and I’m so grateful she wasn’t there.

My boyfriend, Anthony, was nonetheless asleep, and I woke him up. He reached for my gun, however when he didn’t transfer quick sufficient, I grabbed it and began capturing towards the home windows. I couldn’t see who I used to be capturing at due to the curtains.

Per week earlier than this, I’d purchased a Glock 39 at a gun present. It was my first firearm. I used to be residing in an inexpensive rental, in an space the place you hear about quite a lot of crime, and I used to be working quite a lot of late nights as a pharmacy technician. In a gun class, I’d been taught to retailer it unloaded, however I assumed, Sorry, the place I reside, I must maintain it loaded.

After I shot all of the bullets, I dropped the gun. Anthony and I shut ourselves within the lavatory with our canine. It seemed like World Battle III exterior. One in all us had a cellphone, and I referred to as 911. “Somebody is capturing,” I advised the operator.

Within the recording of the decision, you’ll be able to hear me ask, “Are we going to die?” Then the operator asks, “Are you aware who’s capturing?”

Earlier than I might reply him, I heard deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace asking me to return out with my fingers up. I instantly felt low-key relieved. However I say “low-key” as a result of my subsequent thought was, Wait, why are ya’ll right here?

I shouted, “Hey, maintain on, wait, wait, wait!” There was a loud bang and I screamed. I got here out of the lavatory slowly and dropped my cellphone — I didn’t need them to assume it was a gun. There was some type of gasoline and I began coughing.

“You bought the unsuitable home,” I mentioned.

Diamonds Ford’s 911 name from Sept. 28, 2020. Please be aware that this content material could also be distressing to some listeners.

As soon as I acquired to the entrance door, I noticed the officers hitting Anthony. They acknowledged this in reviews, claiming he was resisting them. Somebody handcuffed me and took me to a police automotive. I used to be simply carrying a T-shirt and boxers, so the officer within the automotive gave me a blanket. He advised me that a few of my bullets had hit an officer. I mentioned I used to be sorry and that I respect officers and this was all a mistake.

After I talked to extra officers in an interrogation room, I went to a holding cell. A few hours later, somebody got here to my cell, and I keep in mind the calmness of their voice after they advised me I used to be being charged: “Tried homicide of a legislation enforcement officer.” I might find yourself in jail for all times.

My mom discovered a lawyer named Stephen Kelly. He began gathering paperwork from the case. We realized that the native sheriff’s workplace was serving a warrant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. A confidential informant had mentioned a member of the family of my boyfriend was promoting medicine out of the home.

However this intel was from months earlier, and it’s not clear from the data if the police knew my daughter and I lived there. I used to be additionally doing girls’s eyelashes from the home, in order that they’d most likely seen some folks come and go. We had a roommate, and so they discovered round 125 grams of marijuana in his room, however they solely discovered 0.07 gram in mine, and that’s all I used to be charged for having.

I used to be in jail for greater than 4 months. My case acquired some social media consideration, and an organizer named Danielle Chanzes labored together with her group Dignity Energy to lift cash to get me out of jail on bond. Six months earlier than my arrest, police in Louisville, Kentucky, had killed Breonna Taylor throughout a raid the place police didn’t announce themselves. In my case, they claimed they’d introduced themselves earlier than breaking the window. However I used to be asleep. I’m not the sort to go to struggle towards cops. I keep in mind one officer requested me why I didn’t reload, and I assumed, I don’t actually know the way! This isn’t Name of Responsibility!

Whereas within the jail, I felt a lot anxiousness, particularly when there have been loud noises, like doorways closing or officers banging on the partitions. As soon as I used to be out, my lawyer and I deliberate to file a stand-your-ground declare in courtroom. We talked about how for those who’re a Black lady you’re not allowed to defend your “citadel,” because the legislation places it. To be sincere, I don’t assume I might have been arrested if I’d been a White man.

However over the following couple of years, the state’s case appeared to get weaker. We had my 911 name, in which you’ll be able to inform I didn’t realize it was the police. One of many officers concerned within the raid was himself arrested for drug trafficking. He pleaded not responsible, however it could have affected his capability to testify credibly in my case.

Lastly, in November 2023, prosecutors dropped the costs towards Anthony and me. It was a aid, however it hasn’t ended all the results this had on my life. Whereas the costs have been over my head for 3 years, I couldn’t work in pharmacies, so I relied on my household to remain afloat, which was onerous on my sense of independence. Finally, I went again to high school for cosmetology, so I can do hair, and I now plan to return to my pharmacy technician work.

Whereas I used to be in jail, my daughter would cry over the cellphone and ask after I was coming residence. Now she by no means desires to go away my aspect, to exit and play together with her pals. I do know she’s scared one thing might occur to me once more. I’m nonetheless paranoid, continually worrying the police are about to tug me over and shoot me. I’ve discovered myself obsessively studying about Breonna Taylor’s loss of life, and pondering it might have been me. I do hope telling my story contributes to this not taking place once more.

And I maintain questioning: What legal guidelines do we’d like so this doesn’t occur to another person?

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace didn’t reply to an emailed request for remark. The State Lawyer Workplace for the Fourth Judicial Circuit despatched an announcement summarizing the choice to forgo prosecution. The raid was authorized, prosecutors mentioned, and Ford and Anthony Gantt might have identified about previous drug gross sales on the residence. However the subsequent arrests of officers raised questions in regards to the police work that led to the raid, and would make it tough to prevail in a trial. “However for these arrests, the prosecution would have continued,” spokesperson David Chapman wrote in an e mail. Requested in regards to the function of race within the case, he added, “Race didn’t play a task on this charging determination, nor does it in any charging determination made by this workplace — solely the proof of the case and relevant legislation is taken into account.”