$5.7-million verdict against 2 LAPD officers will stand, Supreme Court rules

Reporting from Washington —  The Supreme Court has let stand a $5.7-million judgment against two Los Angeles Police Department officers for shooting a fleeing gang member who they believed was carrying a gun.

After considering the case for weeks, the justices without comment turned down an appeal from Los Angeles City Atty. Michael Feuer.

The city’s lawyers said the two police officers believed the fleeing suspect posed a danger, and therefore were justified in shooting to stop him.

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Robert Contreras, the suspect, survived the shooting in 2005 but was left paralyzed. He pleaded no contest to attempted murder in a drive-by shooting and served time in prison.

But he then sued the two police officers who shot at him, alleging an excessive use of force. And to the surprise of the Los Angeles Police Department and the City Council, he won a large jury verdict.

In his appeal to the high court, city attorney argued that when viewed from “the officers’ on-scene perspective, not with 20-20 hindsight, their use of force was entirely reasonable under the 4th Amendment.”

But a federal judge and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said a jury had heard the evidence and concluded Contreras was carrying a cellphone -- not a gun -- and that he was shot in the back running down an alley near 61st Street and South Broadway. In the past, the Supreme Court has said police officers may use deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect only if he poses a threat to the officers or the public.

While LAPD Officer Julio Benavides said he called out “Stop! Police!” before shooting at the fleeing man, two other officers testified they did not recall hearing any such warning.

In recent years, the Supreme Court has thrown out a series of lawsuits against police for using force to stop a fleeing vehicle. In those cases, the justices decided the speeding vehicle itself posed a danger to the public.

But the justices have at times allowed “excessive force” suits against the police for shooting at a fleeing person who is not a danger to the officers or to the public.

On Twitter: @DavidGSavage

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