Glasgow man ordered to 'drop boxers and lift testicles' in drugs raid carried out at wrong house
The Gracey family were all staying at grandfather Joe's home after a party the day before to celebrate his granddaughter Ellie's 11th birthday.But they were left baffled when ten cops barged into the home, looking for people suspected of drug offences, they said.Son Anthony, 23, was in bed when he claims officers told him to take off his boxers as part of the raid - before the entire family of six were gathered in the living room.Joe, 60, said he told police to check paperwork "six times" and it was only when they called his ex wife Jacqueline, 56, by the wrong name, they realised their mistake, he said.He said they were at the correct house number - but on the wrong street.Grandfather-of-one Joe, lodged an official complaint with Police Scotland following the mix up, and the force said it is investigating.The force admitted officers attended the wrong address whilst executing a search warrant.Distraught retail worker, Anthony, said: "I was fast asleep and they woke me up."They came upstairs and into my room. One of them said 'drop your boxers'."I said 'are you being serious' but they made me do it. I felt guilty but I hadn't done anything wrong."They made me lift up my testicles. I didn't know what to think. I've never done anything wrong in my life."I said I was innocent but they said they'd arrest me if I didn't shut up."It was really embarrassing."Police officers burst into Joe's home, in Easterhouse, Glasgow, at around 8.15am on July 15.His granddaughter Ellie, 11, his sons, Anthony and Andrew, 32, and a friend, were all asleep, having celebrated the schoolgirl and ex-wife Jacqueline's birthday the day before.Jacqueline came downstairs and noticed lots of police outside, so she opened the door and around ten officers barged past her to get inside, he said."Ellie was fast asleep on the sofa and Anthony and Andrew were asleep upstairs," said Joe, who has a heart condition and has had two strokes."They said 'we have a drugs warrant' and wanted to search the house."Some of them went upstairs into the bedrooms everyone was woken up."Anthony was asked to take off his boxer shorts."I told them it must have been a mistake six or seven times but they didn't listen to me. I have never had anything to do with the police."But they just said 'we don't make mistakes'."Father-of-three Joe said police threatened to arrest Anthony while he argued he was innocent.He said he has never had any dealings with police and pleaded with officers himself too.Joe claims the whole family were made to gather in the living room, and after 15 minutes of "sheer panic" the penny dropped when one of the officers called Jacqueline by the wrong name.He found a letter with his name and address on, and police realised their "stupid" mistake.Joe said: "I proved they had the wrong place with the letter."One of them said 'right, let's go', and they left, just like that, without an apology or anything."They all walked out and went to the right address."It was a shocking mistake."My granddaughter was terrified. She was inconsolable and doesn't want to come back to this house now."Joe said a neighbour saw police enter the same house number as him on a nearby street, moments later.Police Scotland confirmed officers attended the wrong address whilst executing a search warrant.A spokesperson for the force says officers were tasked with searching a property in relation to suspected drug offences.A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police Scotland has received a complaint after officers attended the wrong address whilst executing a search warrant in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow."Enquiries are ongoing and we are unable to comment further."
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