The GBI will investigate the incident in Habersham County where authorities threw a “flashbang” grenade into a residence while serving a search warrant, injuring a 19-month-old child in the process.
In a press release, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said agents from its Cleveland office met Tuesday afternoon with Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brian Rickman.
The GBI said during that meeting, Rickman requested that the agency investigate the May 28 incident.
According to the GBI, Rickman has requested that it investigate to determine if the child’s injuries were the result of a criminal act.
On May 28, authorities were conducting a “no-knock” search warrant at a home on Lakeview Heights in Cornelia as part of a drug investigation.
As authorities entered the home, they threw the “flashbang” grenade in and it exploded, causing serious injuries to the child.
The child is currently in an Atlanta hospital.
Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell told the Northeast Georgian that authorities were seeking a suspected drug dealer, who was arrested later, when they entered the home and did not know children were inside, adding that officers followed protocol.
A “flashbang” grenade is a device that produces flashes of light and loud noise in order to cause someone to lose their sight and hearing temporarily when it is detonated.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said he is waiting to see the results of the investigation before deciding whether any legislative or executive action is needed.