Cops Let Bounty Hunters Terrorize Them, Says Fam

ROCKVILLE, MD. (CN) - A bounty hunter who claimed to be a "lieutenant" in the "National Intelligence Agency" assaulted and terrorized a family in their home as he sought a man with a similar last name, and when the terrified family called 911, Montgomery County police "left the family at the mercy of the bounty hunters," the family claims in Montgomery County Court.

The Franco family, which includes three children, sued T. Otani, the purported "lieutenant" in the "National Intelligence Agency," and Tommie Broadwater, who allegedly hired him after posting bond for a Franco who is not related to the plaintiffs.

The Francos say Otani "terrorized" them in their home at 2 a.m. Otani allegedly claimed that he and his agency were "above the local state and federal police" and that he had a "court order" to capture a man who they had never heard of.

They claim Otani and his employer "attempt to confuse the general public with the Central Intelligence Agency" and that Otani calls himself a "special agent" and "detective" and a "lieutenant," "although he misspells the word and printed it as 'Leutenant.'"

The Francos say they called 911, and a county police officer who responded learned that Otani had the wrong family, but nonetheless "left the family at the mercy of the bounty hunters." The bounty hunters then "continued to use threats and to imprison the plaintiffs in their own home," the Francos say. A second 911 call produced an officer who said the family had to let the bounty hunters in because they had a "court order," though there was no such order, the family says.

They demand millions of dollars in damages for assault, negligence, emotional distress. They are represented by Joseph Malouf.

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