Chief discusses SWAT action

The Green River Police Department has released more details in a SWAT team action that resulted in multiple arrests, but targeted the wrong house.

The action was joint operation involving the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation, Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and GRPD. In a letter to the editor responding to a column printed in The Green River Star last week, Chief Chris Steffen said a three-man team ended up at the wrong address as the result of a mistake occurring from multiple factors.

“It is tough to explain the confusion that is created from chaos, rush of the moment, darkness, multi-entity coordination and communications, etc., but the three man team of officers, working in unison with the other main entry team found themselves there and ended up on the wrong street,” Steffen wrote.

After breaking out a window and deploying a flash-bang distraction device, the team realized they were at the wrong home and most of the members went to the correct address and assisted the main team serving a search warrant at 355 Fir Street. Steffen said some members stayed at the other home to clean up, calm the family down and apologize for their actions. Steffen also said one officer stayed behind to play with and reassure the children in the house that “everything was alright.”

Steffen said the department payed for repairs to the home as the GRPD had tactical command of the operation.

“I believe strongly that the officers directly involved on the team feel terrible about the incident and would never want to have it repeated again,” Steffen wrote. “They are all excellent officers and deputies, chosen to be on the team due to their performance and personalities.”

The SWAT team operation aimed to arrest individuals suspected to be selling methamphetamine in Green River. Jason Normand, 35, was arrested by DCI March 3 and was the subject of a DCI investigation. During the investigation, Normand allegedly told a confidential informant about a multitude of firearms he kept at his residence, offering to sell one to the informant.

According to the initial press release, investigators believed Normand and others at Normand’s home were armed and classified the action as a high-risk search warrant.

Steffen’s complete letter, which addresses other issues, can be found on page A4.