A Denver family was subjected to a SWAT raid in their apartment due to police error, resulting in the family being held at gunpoint and detained in a police car for an hour. The lawsuit alleges that officers, despite knowing the correct apartment number, wrongly raided the Shelton family’s home, violating their constitutional rights. The incident, captured on body camera footage, shows officers entering the family’s apartment while two young children were present, causing significant trauma. The family is suing under Colorado’s police reform law, seeking justice for the unlawful search and seizure and excessive force used against them.
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Minneapolis has settled a lawsuit filed by Patty Day for $600,000, with $175,000 going to Day and $425,000 to her legal team. The lawsuit alleged that former officer Derek Chauvin used excessive force and made a wrongful arrest, employing a similar restraint technique to the one used in the George Floyd killing. A judge later dismissed the drunk driving charge against Day due to lack of probable cause. This settlement adds to the over $36 million the city has paid to settle police misconduct cases involving Chauvin.
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Michael Kenyon filed a $15.5 million claim against the city of Phoenix, alleging that Phoenix police officers caused him severe third-degree burns by pinning him to scorching hot pavement for over four minutes on July 6, 2024. The claim cites a lack of officer training and unconstitutional practices, aligning with findings from a recent Department of Justice investigation. Kenyon’s injuries, which include missing flesh, resulted in over a month of hospitalization. The city is conducting an internal investigation, but has yet to release body camera footage.
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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond dismissed felony assault charges against Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Joseph Gibson, who was accused of breaking a 71-year-old man’s neck during a traffic stop altercation. Drummond cited the officer’s adherence to training and a lack of criminal intent, despite video evidence showing Gibson throwing the man to the ground. The decision followed outrage from the victim’s community and the District Attorney’s assertion that the force used was unreasonable. Drummond maintained that the victim’s actions initiated the escalation.
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A U.S. Department of Justice investigation found the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black individuals, concluding that officers regularly violate citizens’ rights. The investigation, prompted by Tyre Nichols’ death following a traffic stop, revealed a pattern of unlawful stops, searches, and the disproportionate use of force against Black individuals, even in response to minor offenses. The department’s “saturation” policing strategy, lacking adequate supervision and clear guidelines, contributed to this misconduct. The city of Memphis initially refused to negotiate federal oversight, but a news conference is planned to address the findings and potential next steps.
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Following a five-day deliberation, a NSW Supreme Court jury found police officer Kristian White guilty of manslaughter in the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland. White tasered Nowland, who was suffering from dementia and wielding a knife, causing her to fall and sustain a fatal brain bleed. The prosecution argued White’s actions were excessive and breached his duty of care, while the defense contended the taser use was a necessary response. White’s bail has been continued pending a hearing on a Crown application for detention.
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Responding to a 911 call about a home invasion, Officer Alexander Bookman fatally shot homeowner Brandon Durham during a struggle with an intruder. Body camera footage shows the officer yelling to drop the knife before firing six shots, killing Durham and injuring the intruder, who was later arrested and charged. While the police union defends Officer Bookman’s actions, Durham’s family is demanding his termination and prosecution, and the District Attorney’s investigation is ongoing. Officer Bookman is currently on paid administrative leave.
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Body camera footage from a recent traffic stop in Oklahoma City shows an officer taking a 71-year-old driver, Lich Vu, to the ground and handcuffing him after an argument over a citation. The incident resulted in Mr. Vu sustaining serious injuries, including a skull fracture, leading to his hospitalization. The officer, who remains unidentified, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, and the incident will be presented to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office for review. Thuan Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma, has expressed concern about the officer’s use of force, calling it excessive and demanding accountability.
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A former Kentucky police detective, Brett Hankison, was convicted by a federal jury of using excessive force during a flawed 2020 drug raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. It marks the first conviction of an officer involved in the operation. The jury was initially deadlocked on the excessive force charge against Taylor, but chose to continue deliberations. Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, commended the jurors for allocating time to understand the need for justice for her daughter. Hankison, who fired 10 shots during the raid and failed to hit anyone, faces a potential life sentence to be decided on 12 March.
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I can’t even begin to fathom the absurdity of a SWAT team raiding an innocent family’s home over a pair of stolen AirPods, only to find them nonchalantly lying on the street outside. The sheer incompetence and lack of judgment displayed in this situation is mind-boggling. It makes me question the priorities and capabilities of law enforcement in our society.
The fact that the family was detained outside while their home was essentially ransacked by the SWAT team is beyond outrageous. They have a three-month-old baby in the house, for heaven’s sake! The utter disregard for the well-being and safety of innocent individuals is alarming.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker