Judge Orders LAPD to Destroy Photos from Raid on BLM Activist's Attorney's Home

The photos allegedly contain sensitive information related to a lawsuit against the department, leading to claims of harassment and an ongoing internal investigation.

• A Los Angeles judge has ordered the city’s police department to return or destroy photographs of legal documents that were allegedly taken by officers during an unannounced raid on the home of Dermot Givens, who represents a prominent Black Lives Matter activist.
• The documents photographed by police contained “portions of Mr. Given’s case file, and potentially attorney work product” related to a lawsuit filed against the department on behalf of Melina Abdullah, the co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter.
• Abdullah has alleged officers violated her civil rights in 2020 by forcing her out of her home at gunpoint after receiving a hoax call about a hostage situation there.
• Givens alleges that the raid was an instance of harassment from the LAPD for his work on behalf of clients who are suing the department.
• The LAPD is conducting an internal investigation into the incident and declined to provide further details about the search.

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