A federal judge in Maryland has denied a motion to dismiss claims that a Montgomery County police officer “bum rushed, physically restrained, and terrorized” a family of three during a “no-knock” raid and that such practices are commonplace for the department.

Hernan Palma, along with his wife Lilian and their 13-year-old daughter D.P., sued the Montgomery County Police Department and the county itself, alleging that officers executed a no-knock warrant on their residence, without any suspicion of criminal activity in September 2019, according to the April 12 memorandum opinion by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of the District of Maryland. The county had been surveilling the downstairs resident, David Zelaya, for suspected possession of illegal drugs and firearms. The Palmas had rented out the unit to Zelaya beginning in 2019.