The Dalton Police Department is reviewing an incident in which a search warrant was served on the wrong house on Whittle Drive late Tuesday night. The department has repaired damage caused to the residence’s front door. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
Late Tuesday night, detectives from the department’s drug unit were attempting to serve a search warrant and also two arrest warrants for Eric Ashton of 1150 Whittle Drive. The drug unit had previously purchased marijuana from Ashton on two occasions during an undercover investigation.
Detectives drove by the scene Tuesday evening and observed that Ashton’s truck was in the driveway of the residence and people could be seen inside the residence. Detectives decided to wait until approximately 11 p.m. to serve the warrants in order to assemble enough personnel to conduct the operation.
When detectives returned, they mistakenly approached another residence on Whittle Drive which is nearly identical to the target house at 1150 Whittle Drive. Detectives announced that they were with the Dalton Police Department and had a search warrant. When nobody answered the door, detectives waited several moments and then breached the door using a ram. After entering the residence, they learned they were in the wrong house. Detectives apologized to the residents. During the day Wednesday, detectives repaired the front door of the residence. A door matching the original door has been ordered and will be installed at the residence.
Ashton was taken into custody Thursday morning on the two arrest warrants without incident. He is charged with two counts of selling marijuana, one count of possession of methamphetamine, one count of possession of marijuana, and one count of possession of tools for the commission of a crime VGCSA (violation of Georgia Controlled Substances Act).
The Dalton Police Department has policies and procedures in place to guide officers and detectives in conducting raids and executing search warrants. Officials are conducting a review of this incident to determine what procedural errors, if any, may have taken place and ensure that this type of mistake does not happen again.