Salt Lake City to pay to settle civil-rights suit

1997 drug raid: Police targeted Panaderia La Diana due to its Latino owner and customers

Salt Lake City has agreed to pay $290,000 to settle a civil-rights lawsuit over a raid on a tortilla factory, more than seven years after police kicked down its unlocked doors and held customers at gunpoint while searching - unsuccessfully - for drugs. Eighteen people who were at the Panaderia La Diana during the 1997 raid and the business itself each will receive about $15,000. Each plaintiff is expected to net approximately $10,000 after attorney fees and costs. Under Monday's agreement, Salt Lake City police admit no wrongdoing or discrimination. Owner Rafael Gomez said he was struck in the face and knocked down as police burst in, and said he saw one officer point a rifle at the head of his 6-year-old son. Graciela Zamora, a secretary at the business, said an officer dragged her to the floor by her hair. About 80 people, including employees and customers, were handcuffed and held for up to three hours. The raid was a failure - the task force of 75 local and federal officers found no weapons or street drugs at the business. Outcry over the raid was one factor that led to the eventual ouster of then-Salt Lake City Police Chief Ruben Ortega. The lawsuit contended police had no evidence of crime at the factory, which also is a restaurant and market, but targeted the business because the owner and most of the customers are Latino. Police spokesman Dwayne Baird said Monday that Salt Lake City denies the allegations in the suit. However, "the parties have agreed to settle the matter and move on," he said. [more]