ORLANDO, Fla. – Christian and Laurie Ann Campbell say their lives were upended following a false accusation that led to a traumatic SWAT raid on their Orlando home.
“The haunting, the PTSD and the nightmare we live every day — you don’t forget it,” Laurie Ann said. “You live with that fear.”
The couple recalls the incident on Aug. 6, 2020, when their home was raided after a tip was received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Laurie Ann was out of the house, taking their dog to the vet, while Christian was home when officers arrived with rifles drawn.
“From that first night, and every single day since, we have relived this,” Christian shared.
According to the lawsuit, the SWAT team dragged Christian out of the house, cuffed him and forced him to sit on the front lawn as they prepared to search the home. Meanwhile, Laurie Ann was pulled over and arrested.
“I was like, ‘God, please. Why is this happening to me? Why are they doing this?’” Laurie Ann recalled. “Then I was like, ‘Where is my family?’”
The raid was prompted by a cyber tip involving a chat where someone allegedly offered to exchange videos of sexual acts with children. Investigators tied the conversation to the Campbells and secured a search warrant.
Christian noted that officers made disturbing remarks during the raid.
“They observed the artwork in our home and they said, ‘You have a crucifix on your wall. You’re Roman Catholic. They’re all perverts,” Christian recalled.
The couple’s attorney, Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, stated that the case was dropped in 2021 when another suspect was identified in Indiana.
“We have law enforcement committing crimes, and there’s no justice, no recourse, no recompense,” Mitchell-Kidd said.
Laurie Ann expressed her frustration with the lack of response from the authorities.
“Nothing. That’s what we got. And that’s why we’re here. Do you know how many people get abused by them? But we’re going to speak up and change things,” she said.
One of the most traumatizing aspects of the ordeal was that their 18-month-old child was taken away during the investigation. The couple did not get full custody of their child again for at least six months.
“My daughter wasn’t home for Christmas, Thanksgiving or even her birthday. What’s wrong with these people?” Laurie Ann asked.
When asked about the impact on their child, Laurie Ann explained, “She’s afraid of authority, she’s afraid of police, and she calls them ‘bad men.’”
Mitchell-Kidd added, “We need checks and balances. Without them, this will keep happening. My clients won’t be the last people this happens to.”
In a statement to News 6, Orlando police said the following:
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Children and Family Services were also named in the lawsuit.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: