Posted on June 20, 2016 at 4:11 PM by Latoya Jefferson
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Newport News Division, recently dismissed a civil suit that had been brought against four Newport News police officers and the City. The plaintiff was a convicted felon who was known to be in possession of a firearm in the past. He was wanted on federal drug and firearms charges. The police officers stopped him and began to place him under arrest.
The plaintiff resisted and repeatedly failed to follow officer instructions. He began to put his car into drive, which put an officer in danger of serious injury. As a result, police shot at the vehicle and the plaintiff sustained permanent injury. The plaintiff filed a federal lawsuit for over $10 million. In dismissing the case, the court ruled that the officers did not use excessive force and were entitled to qualified immunity for their actions. Moody v. City of Newport News et al.