Former Habersham Deputy Found Not Guilty In Drug Raid Case

U.S. Attorney John Horn is commenting on the decision of a jury to find a former Habersham County Sheriff’s Office deputy not guilty on charges in connection to the Cornelia drug raid that led to a toddler getting injured.

Former deputy Nikki Autry was found not guilty Friday by a federal jury on charges of providing false information to get a warrant, which led to a raid that critically injured a toddler in May 2014.

Horn said that this was a tragic case that needed to be brought and presented to a jury, adding that while he is obviously disappointed, he accepts the jury’s decision.

The “no-knock” search warrant was served during the early morning hours of May 28, 2014.

It was during the execution of that warrant when a Habersham County deputy sheriff tossed a flash bang grenade into a side door of the residence, landing in a room where a toddler was sleeping.

The grenade landed inside the toddler’s playpen and critically injured him.

According to the Associated Press, Autry’s attorney, Jeff Brickman, told WSB-TV on live television shortly after the verdict that they feel terrible about what happened to the toddler but that Autry did nothing wrong.