Early on the morning of Wednesday, May 19 Larson Munongo and his girlfriend were awoken by police who were in the process of raiding their house on the Western Shore.
“I heard two loud bangs at first and went downstairs when I saw a couple of canisters smoking and I knew what was going on,” Munongo says.
The 21-year old says he then went and got his girlfriend and two dogs, upstairs so they could safely exit the house. He says the experience was the most scared he’s ever been in his life.
As a black man, Munongo says he was scared police would perceive him as a threat based on his skin colour so before exiting his house he stripped down to his boxers to show he was not carrying a weapon.
A Western Shore man believes racism fueled the aggressiveness used by Police in a raid on his home. Story to follow. @ckbwradio pic.twitter.com/MoOHHrgYA8
— Evan Taylor (@evanrtaylor) May 20, 2021
According to the RCMP, they executed the search warrant on the suspicion that Munongo was in possession of a prohibited 9mm firearm. No firearm matching that description was found according to Cpl. Chris Marshall.
Police did locate some rounds for 22., however, Muongo says they were authorized to be in possession of them.
“Had they just knocked on my door and shown me the warrant with my name and address I would have fully complied,” Munongo said.
Police instead used more forceful tactics as a security video shows police exiting the forest near Munongo’s house after which they announce their presence and immediately started firing flashbangs into his windows.
A home security video of the raid was taken by Munongo and although it’s somewhat muffled in the video he claims the officers were having fun and he heard one of them say “feel the rush” as he shot a flash grenade into his window.
Munongo does not believe such forceful action would have been used had it not been for his race, “As soon as I came out they wanted me in cuffs and on the ground, everyone from the neighbourhood was out and now I can only imagine what they think.
However, in speaking with some residents in the neighbouring houses it appears they were also frustrated by the demonstration of force. One neighbour who did not share his name said, “There was no need for that this early in the morning and with the amount of force used it all seems excessive.”
In the past, Munongo has received a weapons charge but he says it was for an antique rifle he was holding on to in hopes it would increase in value. He believes that made have played a role in the amount of force used, but based on that alone he feels it was unwarranted.
In total Munongo believes there were more than a dozen police officers and Cpl. Chris Marshall confirmed that the South Shore Street Crime Enforcement team were at the scene. Munongo also says two armoured vehicles were also on his front lawn and whilst he was being arrested one of the turrets was aimed directly at him.
Munongo says his house is currently uninhabitable as a result of the raid. Six of the windows in his home were broken, teargas in lingering in the interior and the house is in a state of disarray as a result of the police search.
Damage left after RCMP raided a home in Western Shore. Photo: Evan Taylor
The RCMP are still investigating the case so they were unable to confirm various aspects of Munongo’s claims, though Cpl. Marshall says he anticipates charges are forthcoming.
Speaking on the use of force Marshall said it is handled on a case by case situation that influenced by a multitude of factors including; resources available, location, and assumed risk.
This is not the first instance Munongo has had with the police since he’s lived in the area. He says around Christmas the RCMP arrived at his house responding to tips that there was a large gathering of black people who were all armed. Munongo says RCMP were again operating under false pretences as it was just himself, his girlfriend and his parents.
Munongo found that particular incident ridiculous as he is adopted and both his parents are white leaving him perplexed as to how the RCMP could have thought 20 black people were there.
Ultimately, Munongo believes he will be shown to be entirely innocent when all is said and done and if that is the case he would like an apology and he would also like to see RCMP investigate cases more thoroughly before using such aggressive tactics.
