The first rule about MRI machines is never take metal near them. Doubly so if it’s a gun. A Los Angeles Police Department officer learned the hard way during a failed raid of a medical center in October 2023. The LAPD is being sued for damages to the machine among other things.
Owners of NoHo Diagnostic Center recently filed suit against the LAPD, the city of Los Angeles, and multiple police officers. The filing alleges the business owners’ constitutional rights were violated, and are demanding an unspecified amount in damages. It states that officers raided the center, believing it was a front for an illegal cannabis-growing operation. According to the lawsuit, this was due to higher-than-usual energy use and the “distinct odor” of cannabis plants.
When the LAPD raided the facility on October 18th, 2023, a lone employee was detained while they searched. However, the filing contends that not a single plant was found. All officers apparently saw was a normal, run-of-the-mill medical center.
After an initial search, the employee was asked to call in a manager while the raid continued. During this time, the plaintiffs claim the officers’ behavior was “nothing short of a disorganized circus, with no apparent rules, procedures, or even a hint of coordination.”
Guns And MRI Machines
At one point during this investigation, an officer walked into an MRI room, which had several prominent warnings against bringing metal inside. All while his rifle was “dangling… in his right hand, with an unsecured strap,” the lawsuit states. This is when the MRI machine allegedly ripped the gun from him and pinned it against the machine due to its high-powered magnets.
Then it’s alleged he pulled a sealed emergency release button to shut the machine down. However, deactivating it causes thousands of liters of helium gas to evaporate and damage the machine in the process. He then supposedly secured his rifle but left a magazine filled with bullets on the floor.
If these claims are even remotely true, the officer is extremely lucky they didn’t have any medical pins or this situation could have ended with a lot more pain and bloodshed. We’ll keep you posted on updates about this situation as it develops.
