Qualified immunity for officers who detained the wrong man
Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) In August 2020, San Antonio Police Officer Richard Serna responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment complex. As Serna approached, he saw Mathias Ometu, leaving that complex on foot. Ometu is a heavily-bearded black man, and he was wearing a green […]
Officer’s mistake reasonably extended stop which led to discovery of drugs
Facts At around 9:00 p.m. on February 18, 2021, Officer Mark Moore noticed a Camaro at the Big Z gas station in Rhome, Texas that lacked a front license plate, in violation of Texas law. Moore used his police vehicle’s computer to run a license plate check, but inadvertently mistyped the license plate number. The […]
Officer improperly searched home and seized teenagers without exigent circumstances
Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) In October 2018, Megan McMurry resided in a gated apartment complex in Midland, Texas with her daughter, J.M., (then age fourteen) and son C.M. (then age twelve). J.M. took classes virtually from home, C.M. attended Abell Junior High School (Abell), part of the […]
Using taser not clearly established in this case as being unreasonable
Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) On July 7, 2021, Nickolas Trabucco parked at a gas station in Hernando, Mississippi, where Andres Rivera was filling up his patrol car. Rivera saw Trabucco drive up, finished filling up his car, and then walked over to the driver’s side of Trabucco’s […]
Drive stunning was reasonable in this matter where subject died
Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) In the early morning of October 10, 2021, Kenneth Anderson, Jr., crashed a sedan in Harris County, Texas. Deputy Crystal Estrada was the first officer to arrive at the scene around 3:25 A.M. Her body camera shows Anderson’s car against the curb near […]
Qualified Immunity for Mississippi Officers in Case Where Police Killed Infant Used as Human Shield
Facts (If you are new to 1983 actions, click here for help) On May 3, 2021, law enforcement responded to a shooting in Baker, Louisiana. Two individuals had been fatally shot, and a baby—La’Mello Parker—was missing. The initial investigation identified La’Mello’s father, Eric Smith, as the suspected shooter and kidnapper. A warrant was issued for […]