2 Little Rock Cops to Stand Civil Trial over Man's Killing

2 Little Rock Cops to Stand Civil Trial over Man's Killing 

Eugene Ellison: Little Rock's Michael Brown

READ ABOUT: Little Rock's Newest Corrupt Police Chief Kenton Buckner

DONNA LESHER

Appeals Court Orders 2 LR Police Officers to Stand Trial in Civil Lawsuit over Man's Killing

Ellison v. Lesher, No. 13-3371 (8th Cir. 2015)

DISCLOSURE: The lawyer representing this case has requested that I consider being deposed as a witness to the pattern and practices of various predicate acts of the Little Rock Police Department, such as use of excessive force.

I have agreed to make all of my resources available to this Mr. Ellison's family.

May the Justice Dept.see fit to finally afford them justice, indeed.  

Chief Elder Ean Lee Bordeaux- War Chief, Creole Houma-Choctaw People

READ ABOUT: Little Rock's Newest Corrupt Police Chief Kenton Buckner

TABITHA MCGRILLIS

Eugene Ellison: Little Rock's Michael Brown

Justia Opinion Summary: Ellison v. Lesher, No. 13-3371 (8th Cir. 2015)

Officers Lesher and McCrillis were working off-duty, patrolling a Little Rock apartment complex. They noticed that Ellison’s apartment door was open. From outside, they could see 67-year-old Ellison sitting on his couch, leaning on his cane. After Lesher and McCrillis started a conversation, Ellison responded that he did not want help or attention. McCrillis thought Ellison was being mouthy and wanted to keep him from shutting the door. The women stepped inside. Ellison got up and approached. A physical altercation ensued. The officers repeatedly struck Ellison and knocked off his glasses. Ellison repeatedly told them to get out of his apartment. McCrillis requested back-up, which arrived after the physical altercation was over. Lesher was still inside the apartment. Officer Lucio reached inside to pull Lesher out. The officers instructed Ellison to lie down. He refused. Lesher told McCrillis that Ellison was getting his cane, and that she was going to shoot Ellison. She fired two shots into the apartment, killing Ellison. In the estate’s suit under 42 U.S.C. 1983, the Eighth Circuit held that neither officer was entitled to qualified immunity on a claim of illegal entry; that Lesher was not entitled to qualified immunity on a claim of lethal excessive force; but both are entitled to qualified immunity on a claim concerning use of nonlethal force.

READ ABOUT: Little Rock's Newest Corrupt Police Chief Kenton Buckner

• BRIAN CHILSON
• Attorneys Flint Taylor (left) and Michael Laux

Court Description: Colloton, Author, with Wollman and Benton, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Civil rights. In action alleging the defendant officers unlawfully entered the home of plaintiff's 67-year-old father and used excessive force when they shot and killed him, the district court did not err in denying defendants' motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity on Count I of the complaint which alleged unlawful entry; under the facts outlined by the district court, defendants entered because they thought the deceased was being "mouthy" and that belief did not provide an exception to the warrant requirement for entering the residence; the court would not look to facts not outlined by the district court as that would be beyond the proper scope of an interlocutory appeal on the issue of qualified immunity; with respect to the district court's finding that defendant Lesher was not entitled to qualified immunity on Count II's allegations of excessive force, Lesher frames her argument that she was entitled to qualified immunity on a set of facts not assumed by the district court; while she may be able to prove at trial that the deceased was wielding a cane in a threatening manner, the court must accept for the purposes of its decision that he was not wielding the cane when shot; under the facts outlined by the district court officer Lesher would have been on notice that use of deadly force would not be reasonable, and Lesher was not entitled to qualified immunity; given the de minimus level of injuries the deceased suffered before the shooting, defendant McCrillis is entitled to qualified immunity on the excessive force claim against him and defendant Lesher was entitled qualified immunity on plaintiff's claim she used excessive non-lethal force before the shooting.

DOWNLOAD PDF: http://cases.justia.com/federal/appellate-courts/ca8/13-3371/13-3371-2015-08-06.pdf?ts=1438873277

VIEW ONLINE: http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca8/13-3371/13-3371-2015-08-06.html

READ ABOUT: Little Rock's Newest Corrupt Police Chief Kenton Buckner