Lawsuit over mistaken Pender County SWAT raid can proceed, judge rulesCourt Rules North Carolina Family's Lawsuit Can Move Forward After SWAT Team Raided, Damaged Wrong Home (Photo: Institute for Justice)WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a Pender County family whose home was mistakenly raided by law enforcement in 2024 can move forward. The lawsuit alleges deputies from the Lee County and Pender County Sheriff’s Offices mistakenly raided the family’s home in Willard while searching for a suspect accused of vehicle break-ins. Officers allegedly chose to raid the residence after seeing a Nissan parked outside, believing it belonged to the suspect. The lawsuit argues officers failed to verify that the vehicle matched the suspect’s. The defendants have 14 days from the court’s order to file their response to the lawsuit.