Boise police enter wrong apartment; apologize

BOISE (AP) - Boise police acknowledged they entered the wrong apartment to serve a search warrant related to a drug and theft investigation.

The Idaho Statesman reported police broke down the apartment door early Thursday and tossed in a flash-bang device.

Police Deputy Operations Chief Eugene Smith said Friday the error "is rare and certainly regrettable." He said officers apologized to the apartment occupants and began to do "all they could to make it right, including paying for repairs and securing the apartment."

Smith said police are reviewing the case to see how it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Harrison Wheeler said he looked outside at the Parkhill Apartments to see flashing police lights, a SWAT-style vehicle and people being questioned.

In a statement, police said the address was confirmed by several sources - but it was wrong.

Police said the two people inside were startled but cooperative.