Taylor, Dillon the Estate of et al v. Salt Lake City et al
Filing
64
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER granting 44 Motion for Summary Judgment: plaintiffs' First and Fourth causes of action against Salt Lake City and Bron Cruz are dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Judge David Nuffer on 5/17/19 (alt)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
THE ESTATE OF DILLON TAYLOR,
CODY TAYLOR, JERRAIL TAYLOR,
TEESHA TAYLOR, and ADAM THAYNE,
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Plaintiffs,
v.
SALT LAKE CITY, CITY OF SOUTH SALT
LAKE, SALT LAKE COUNTY, BRON
CRUZ, ANDREW SYLLELOGLOU;
UPPSEN DOWNES, CHRIS
KOTRODIMOS, JAMES SPANGENBERG,
CHIEF MIKE BROWN, VAUGHN
Case No. 2:15-cv-00769-DN-BCW
DELAHUNTY, CRAIG HICKEN, CHASE
HERMANSEN, JOE SUTERA, CHIEF
District Judge David Nuffer
JACK CARRUTH, and JOHN and JANE
DOES 1-35,
Defendants.
This case arises from a police encounter with Dillon Taylor (“Mr. Taylor”), Jerrail Taylor
(“Jerrail”), and Adam Thayne (“Adam”) on August 11, 2014. 1 The encounter resulted in the
shooting death of Mr. Taylor and the detention of Jerrail and Adam. 2
These events are a tragedy to everyone involved and to the community. The resulting
impact undoubtedly remains deeply felt and weighs heavy on the hearts and minds of the parties
and their families now several years later. On a broader scale, this case presents important issues
to the community as a whole. The qualified immunity doctrine can lead to results that some may
1
Complaint for Damages (Violation of Civil Rights) (“Complaint”) ¶¶ 1-4, 10, docket no. 2, filed Oct. 28, 2015.
2
Id. ¶¶ 1-4, 10, 36-37, 41-42, 53-54, 65.
view as harsh or unjust, regardless of the outcome. But the law necessitates the doctrine’s
application to the facts of this case. There is no way to reset or change the past. Yet being
mindful of the past can guide future decisions and conduct to avoid similar unfortunate
consequences.
Plaintiffs’ Complaint asserts several claims for violation of civil rights and wrongful
death against multiple government entities and law enforcement officers. 3 Through a series of
stipulations, 4 the only remaining claims are Plaintiffs’ first cause of action against Officer Bron
Cruz for use of excessive force 5 and Plaintiffs’ fourth cause of action against Salt Lake City for
deliberate indifference in its policies, training, and investigation relating to Officer Cruz’s
conduct. 6 Officer Cruz and Salt Lake City seek summary judgment on these claims, arguing that
Officer Cruz is entitled to qualified immunity, and that Salt Lake City cannot be held liable
because Officer Cruz’s conduct did not violate a statutory or constitutional right. 7 Plaintiffs
argue that genuine issues of material fact preclude summary judgment. 8
Because the undisputed material facts demonstrate that Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force
in the August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr. Taylor was objectively reasonable under the
circumstances, Officer Cruz did not violate a statutory or constitutional right and is entitled to
qualified immunity as a matter of law. And because Officer Cruz’s conduct did not violate a
3
Id. ¶¶ 105-170.
4
Order Granting Stipulated Motion to Dismiss Certain Claims and Certain Defendants, docket no. 33, filed Apr. 28,
2016; Order Granting Stipulated Motion to Dismiss Defendants Andrew Sylleloglou, Uppsen Downes and Chief
Mike Brown With Prejudice, docket no. 51, filed Feb. 10, 2017; Order Granting Stipulated Motion to Dismiss
Certain Claims, docket no. 61, filed Aug. 7, 2017.
5
Complaint ¶¶ 105-113.
6
Id. ¶¶ 129-137.
7
Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support (“Motion for Summary Judgement”) at 21-34, 39,
docket no. 44, filed Nov. 28, 2016.
8
Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a)
(“Response”) at 71-90, docket no. 54, filed May 22, 2017.
2
statutory or constitutional right, Salt Lake City cannot, as a matter of law, be held liable for
Officer Cruz’s conduct. Therefore, the Motion for Summary Judgment 9 is GRANTED.
Contents
EVIDENTIARY ISSUE ................................................................................................................. 4
UNDISPUTED FACTS .................................................................................................................. 5
STANDARD OF REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 30
DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................... 31
Officer Cruz is entitled to qualified immunity on Plaintiffs’ excessive force claim because
his use of deadly force in the August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr. Taylor did not
violate a statutory or constitutional right .............................................................. 31
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable in light of the
dispatch report of a man with a gun and the unknown motivations of the
suspects ..................................................................................................... 33
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable in light of the
potential threat of serious physical harm posed by Mr. Taylor ................ 37
Mr. Taylor refused to comply with the officers’ repeated commands that
he stop and show his hands ........................................................... 38
Mr. Taylor made a sudden and hostile “draw stroke motion” with his
hands while refusing to comply with the officers’ commands, and
while directly facing Officer Cruz................................................. 41
Mr. Taylor and Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou were in close proximity
during the encounter ..................................................................... 47
Mr. Taylor manifested hostile and defiant intentions in relation to the
officers........................................................................................... 48
Conclusion: Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm
to the officers or others ................................................................. 49
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable in light of Mr.
Taylor’s attempts to resist or evade arrest ................................................ 50
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable under the totality of
the circumstances ...................................................................................... 51
Salt Lake City cannot be held liable on Plaintiffs’ municipal liability claim relating to
Officer Cruz’s conduct .......................................................................................... 54
ORDER ......................................................................................................................................... 55
9
Docket no. 44, filed Nov. 28, 2016.
3
EVIDENTIARY ISSUE
As a preliminary matter, Plaintiffs object to the admissibility of statements made by
Jerrail and Adam while they were detained and interviewed by law enforcement officers on
August 11, 2014. 10 Plaintiffs argue that because the statements were obtained in violation of
Jerrail and Adam’s Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures, the
statements are inadmissible. 11
“Although the Tenth Circuit has not weighed in on this precise issue, ‘federal courts of
appeals have widely held that the exclusionary rule does not apply in § 1983 cases.’” 12 These
“[c]ourts have been reluctant to extend the exclusionary rule beyond the criminal context
because its purpose is to deter police misconduct and safeguard Fourth Amendment rights, rather
than serve as [a] personal constitutional right of those aggrieved.” 13 “Application of the
exclusionary rule in the civil context [also] comes at a significant cost: ‘officers could be forced
to pay damages based on an overly truncated version of the evidence.’” 14 Indeed, “[r]ecognizing
these substantial costs, the U.S. Supreme Court has ‘repeatedly declined to extend the
exclusionary rule to proceedings other than criminal trials.’” 15
These authorities are persuasive. Moreover, Plaintiffs repeatedly rely on Jerrail and
Adam’s statements to officers in support of their arguments and in attempting to establish
10
Response ¶18 at 19-20, ¶¶ 20-23 at 20-22, ¶¶ 41-42 at 37, ¶ 55-56 at 43-44, ¶ 59-60 at 44-46.
11
Id.
12
Wolfe v. Gray, Case No. 13-CV-286-JED-JFJ, 2018 WL 4964364, *5 (N.D. Okla. Oct. 15, 2018) (quoting Lingo
v. City of Salem, 832 F.3d 953, 959 (9th Cir. 2016)); see also Vaughn v. Chapman, 662 Fed. App’x 464, 467 (7th
Cir. 2016); Black v. Wigington, 811 F.3d 1259, 1268 (11th Cir. 2016); Machado v. Weare Police Dep’t, 494 Fed.
App’x 102, 106 (1st Cir. 2012); Townes v. City of New York, 176 F.3d 138, 149 (2d Cir. 1999); Wren v. Towe, 130
F.3d 1154 (5th Cir. 1997).
13
Howl v. Alvarado, Case No. 2:17-cv-00380-PJK-SMV, 2017 WL 4142588, *2.
14
Id. (quoting Black, 811 F.3d at 1268).
15
Wolfe, 2018 WL 4964364, *6 (quoting Pennsylvania Bd. of Probation & Parole v. Scott, 524 U.S. 357, 363
(1998)).
4
genuine issues of material fact. 16 It would be improper to invoke the exclusionary rule to shield
statements that Plaintiffs believe are unfavorable, while disregarding the rule for statements that
Plaintiffs believe favorable. The exclusionary rule will not apply to the statements made by
Jerrail and Adam while they were detained and interviewed by law enforcement officers on
August 11, 2014. The statements are admissible.
UNDISPUTED FACTS 17
1.
At approximately 7:00 p.m. on August 11, 2014, a 911 call was dispatched to Salt
Lake City police officers by radio as a “report of a man with a gun” at 1900 South 200 East;
“suspect flashed a gun at the complainant but no threat was made;” “male Hispanic wearing
white shirt, red pants, red baseball cap; also another male Hispanic wearing a striped shirt; they
were last seen southbound on 200 East.” 18
2.
The dispatcher also informed officers that no shots had been fired; no one was in
danger; the complainant was not cooperative and hung up on the call taker; and the complainant
refused to provide her identifying information. 19
3.
The dispatcher asked officers if there was “any unit coming clear to handle a
check?” 20
16
Response at 5-70.
17
The following Undisputed Facts are taken from the parties briefing on the Motion for Summary Judgment. Motion
for Summary Judgment ¶¶ 1-62 at 5-16; Response ¶¶ 1-100 at 49-70. Those facts, or portions thereof, identified in
the parties’ briefing that do not appear in these Undisputed Facts are either disputed; not supported by the cited
evidence; not material; or are not facts, but rather, are characterization of facts or legal argument. Additionally, these
Undisputed Facts contain facts that are not material, but nevertheless provide a more complete background of the
events and circumstances and give context to the parties’ arguments.
18
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 1 at 5-6 (citing Dispatch Recording, docket no. 55, filed conventionally May 22,
2017, attached as Ex. 2 to Declaration of Robert B. Cummings in Support of Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Defendants’
Motion for Summary Judgment Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a) (“Cummings Declaration”), docket no. 54-1, filed
May 22, 2017).
19
Response ¶ 1 at 49 (citing Dispatch Recording; Salt Lake Police Department CAD Call Hardcopy (“SLPD CAD
Call”) at 6, attached as Ex. 1 to Cummings Declaration).
20
Id. ¶ 2 at 49 (citing Dispatch Recording).
5
4.
The call was not dispatched as a “brandishing” call. 21
5.
Officer Cruz was on patrol in the area and responded to the dispatch report to
ensure that the suspects were not a threat to public safety and to determine whether any laws had
been or were being violated, including a possible brandishing. 22
6.
Officer Cruz did not notice the comments “no shots fired” or “no one in
danger.” 23
7.
Officer Uppsen Downes was the first (between Officers Andrew Sylleloglou,
Cruz, and Downes) to respond to the dispatch call. 24
8.
The first officer to respond was Sergeant Charly Goodman. Officer Downes
responded to the call approximately 10 seconds after it was dispatched and responded, “back
160,” which is the number for Sergeant Goodman. Officer Cruz responded approximately 47
seconds later. Then Officer Sylleloglou asked Officer Cruz if he wanted help or backup. 25
9.
Officer Cruz indicated that he wanted backup, and Officers Sylleloglou and
Downes responded that they were en route. 26
10.
Officer Cruz believed the call was dispatched as to a group of men, one of whom
had “brandished” a weapon. 27
21
Id. ¶ 6 at 49 (citing SLCC CAD Call; Dispatch Recording).
22
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 2 at 6 (citing Dispatch Recording; Declaration of Bron Cruz (“Cruz
Declaration”) ¶ 3, docket no. 44-2, filed Nov. 28, 2016).
23
Response ¶ 3 at 49 (citing Deposition of Bron Cruz (“Cruz Deposition”) at 73:4-7, attached as Ex. 3 to Cummings
Declaration), ¶ 4 at 49 (citing Cruz Deposition at 74:16-18).
24
Id. ¶ 9 at 50 (citing Dispatch Recording).
25
Id. ¶ 10 at 50 (citing Dispatch Recording).
26
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 3 at 6 (citing Dispatch Recording; Cruz Declaration ¶ 4).
27
Response ¶ 5 at 49 (citing Cruz Deposition at 37:17-19; Interview of Officer Bron Cruz (“Cruz Interview”) at
SLCC 001367, attached as Ex. 4 to Cummings Declaration)
6
11.
Neither Officers Downes nor Sylleloglou ever used the term “brandish” to
describe the call. 28
12.
Officer Downes did not believe the call warranted his emergency lights or siren
when traveling to the area under department policy. 29
13.
Upon approaching the area in his police vehicle, Officer Cruz saw three men
walking together, who were later identified as Mr. Taylor, Jerrail, and Adam. Two of the men
generally matched the descriptions provided by the dispatcher. The three men were proceeding
along 2100 South at approximately 150 East and heading west. 30
14.
Officer Cruz continued following the three men in his police vehicle while staying
approximately a block away. He indicated to dispatch that he would wait for the arrival of
backup officers before approaching the three men. 31
15.
Officer Cruz asked the dispatcher whether the report identified which of the three
men flashed the gun, and was told that the log did not indicate which one. 32
16.
Officer Cruz was 50 to 75 feet away from the three men, and facing them, when
he observed them walk west toward him and cross State Street at 2100 South. 33
28
Id. ¶ 7 at 49 (citing Interview of Officer Uppsen Downes (“Downes Interview”), docket no. 55, filed
conventionally May 22, 2017, attached as Ex. 11 to Cummings Declaration; Deposition of Uppsen Downes
(“Downes Deposition”), attached as Ex. 8 to Cummings Declaration; Declaration of Uppsen Downes (“Downes
Declaration”), docket no. 44-5, filed Nov. 28, 2016), ¶ 8 at 49 (citing Deposition of Andrew Sylleloglou
(“Sylleloglou Deposition”), attached as Ex. 7 to Cummings Declaration; Interview of Officer Andrew Sylleloglou
(“Sylleloglou Interview”), docket no. 55, filed conventionally May 22, 2017, attached as Ex. 9 to Cummings
Declaration; Officer Sylleloglou’s Bodycam Video (“Sylleloglou Bodycam Video”), docket no. 55, filed
conventionally May 22, 2017, attached as Ex. 10 to Cummings Declaration; Declaration of Andrew Sylleloglou
(“Sylleloglou Declaration”), docket no. 44-4, filed Nov. 28, 2016).
29
Id. ¶ 26 at 54 (citing Downes Deposition at 21:3-7,16-21).
30
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 4 at 6 (citing Dispatch Recording; Cruz Declaration ¶ 5).
31
Id. ¶ 5 at 6 (citing Dispatch Recording; Cruz Declaration ¶ 6).
32
Id. ¶ 6 at 6 (citing Dispatch Recording; Cruz Declaration ¶ 7).
33
Response ¶ 11 at 50 (citing Cruz Deposition 27:14-17; Aerial View of Intersection at 2100 South State Street,
attached as Ex. 6 to Cummings Declaration).
7
17.
As the three men reached the west side of the intersection, Officer Cruz observed
the male in the white shirt, later identified as Mr. Taylor, walk up to a car stopped at the red light
and interact with the driver, while the other two males were “throwing their hands in the air, kind
of making a big scene.” This interaction lasted five to 10 seconds. 34
18.
Officer Cruz described the exchange as “some kind of distraction or disturbance”
and possibly “harassing the driver.” 35 Officer Cruz stated the exchange was “not typical” and
“unusual,” since “you don’t just walk up to people in a crosswalk, somebody that maybe you
don’t know, and start engaging them while they are sitting in their car in traffic.” 36
19.
Salt Lake City Police Crime Scene Technician Benjamin Bender also witnessed
the exchange and described it as:
A male in a white t-shirt and blue jeans approached a red sedan that was waiting
at the northbound red light. This Technician’s view of the male was obstructed by
passing vehicles, but the male appeared to high-five the driver of the vehicle and
then jogged across the remainder of the intersection where he joined the other two
males at the southwest corner. 37
20.
Officer Cruz then observed the three men as they entered the 7-Eleven
convenience store on the corner of 2100 South and State Street, and decided to wait until they
exited the 7-Eleven before approaching them. 38
34
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 7 at 6-7 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 8).
35
Response ¶ 12 at 50-51 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001368).
36
Id. (citing Cruz Deposition at 28:7-17).
37
Id. ¶ 13 at 51 (citing Bender Statement at SLCC 001396). Though cited by Plaintiffs, the Bender Statement was
not attached as an exhibit to the parties’ briefing. However, Officer Cruz and Salt Lake City did not dispute the
content of the Bender Statement. Reply Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (“Reply”) at
70-71, docket no. 59, filed Aug. 2, 2017.
38
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 8 at 7 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 9).
8
21.
While watching from across the street in a Subway parking lot, Officer Cruz
expressed to Officer Downes that he really hoped “those guys don’t rob the store,” 39 and that he
“hope[d] nothing bad is going to happen in the store.” 40 When asked what he meant by this,
Officer Cruz stated in his deposition:
Well, it was a – it was a more personal conversation between Officer Downes and
I. You go to – one of the first things you learn as an officer – you know, man with
a gun calls, they are not uncommon. And when you are prepared, you run as many
scenarios through your head as possible, just to be as prepared as possible. And
one of those scenarios that had crossed my mind ever so briefly was something –
you know, a convenience store robbery. They are very common. It’s just
something that crossed my mind, just another scenario. 41
22.
Officer Downes noted at that time it was “[b]usiness as normal it appeared for the
store.” 42
23.
Surveillance video from the 7-Eleven shows the three men entering the store,
making a purchase, and then exiting the store a short time later. 43
24.
In the one or two minutes the three men were inside the 7-Eleven, they completed
their purchases without incident and exited in a normal manner without having robbed the store,
harassed any customers, or caused any disturbance. 44
39
Response ¶ 14 at 51 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001360).
40
Id. (citing Cruz Deposition at 31:23-24).
41
Id. (citing Cruz Deposition at 33:8-22).
42
Id. ¶ 15 at 52 (citing Downes Deposition at 25:6-7).
43
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 9 at 7 (citing 7-Eleven Surveillance Video (“7-Eleven Video”), docket no. 45,
filed conventionally Nov. 28, 2017, attached as Exhibit B to Declaration of Chase Hermansen (“Hermansen
Declaration”), docket no. 44-3, filed Nov. 28, 2016).
44
Response ¶ 16 at 52 (citing 7-Eleven Video; Still Photos from 7-Eleven Surveillance Video (“7-Eleven Photos”),
docket no. 44-8, filed Nov. 28, 2016; Officer Cruz’s Bodycam Video (“Cruz Bodycam Video”), docket no. 56, filed
conventionally May 23, 2017, attached as Ex. 5 to Cummings Declaration).
9
25.
The three men exited the 7-Eleven after Officer Downes arrived and as Officer
Sylleloglou was arriving. 45
26.
Mr. Taylor exited the 7-Eleven a few feet behind Jerrail and Adam. 46
27.
Officer Cruz called out over the radio that the three men were leaving the
7-Eleven as Officers Downes and Cruz were already on their way across the street from where
they were staged at the Subway parking lot. 47
28.
Officer Downes arrived at the 7-Eleven just ahead of Officer Cruz and drove his
vehicle past the front of the store to cover the rear in case the three men ran away in that
direction. 48
29.
In his interview, Officer Cruz stated:
[Officer] Downes and I both went across the street. I anticipated I, I had the south
position and for reasons I can’t explain, [Officer] Downes, he said, “I’m going out
back.” Um, as these three just walked straight out into the parking lot. Um, and so
he just kept driving. He drove around the building but I felt, felt good when I saw
[Officer Sylleloglou]. 49
30.
At his deposition, Officer Cruz stated: “I – I don’t remember hearing [Officer]
Downes express that he would go around back.” 50 And when asked how he felt when Officer
Downes drove to the back, Officer Cruz stated: “It didn’t make me feel – at the time, I don’t
45
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 10 at 7 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 10; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 6).
46
Response ¶ 17 at 52 (citing 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos; Cruz Bodycam Video).
47
Id. ¶ 18 at 52 (citing Dispatch Recording).
48
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 11 at 7 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 11; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 7; Downes
Declaration ¶ 6); see also Response ¶ 23 at 53 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 11), ¶ 28 at 54 (citing Cruz Bodycam
Video).
49
Response ¶¶ 19-20 at 52-53 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001369).
50
Id. ¶ 22 at 53 (citing Cruz Deposition at 36:19-20).
10
know that it made me feel anything. I was focused on the suspects in front of me;” 51 “I would not
say it worried me; not at the time.” 52
31.
Neither Officers Sylleloglou nor Downes were concerned by Officer Downes’s
decision to drive to the rear of the 7-Eleven, but rather saw it as a necessary move and standard
procedure. 53
32.
In his interview, Officer Cruz stated that when he initiated his red and blue
emergency lights, “for a split second, I felt a little bit better about the situation.” 54
33.
Although Officer Cruz had engaged the lights on his own vehicle, Officer
Downes did not turn on his vehicle’s red and blue emergency lights at any time during the
encounter. 55
34.
Officer Sylleloglou was the first to arrive on the scene at the 7-Eleven, pulling
directly in front of Jerrail and Adam as they exited the store. 56
35.
Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou approached the men in their marked police vehicles
from opposite directions. Officer Cruz approached from the east and Officer Sylleloglou
approached from the west, forming a barricade or “V” blocking the path of the three men as they
walked alongside each other in the 7-Eleven’s parking lot. 57
51
Id. (citing Cruz Deposition at 39:20-23).
52
Id. (citing Cruz Deposition at 40:4-5).
53
Id. ¶ 21 at 53 (citing Downes Deposition at 26:2, 27:16-20; Sylleloglou Deposition at 26:23-25, 27:1, 28:21-25).
54
Id. ¶ 24 at 53-54 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001369).
55
Id. ¶ 25 at 54 (citing Scene Photos, docket no. 45, filed conventionally Nov. 28, 2016, attached as Exhibit A to
Cruz Declaration).
56
Id. ¶ 27 at 54 (citing 7-Eleven Photos).
57
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 12 at 7-8 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Still Photos from Officer Cruz’s
Bodycam Video (“Cruz Bodycam Photos”), docket no. 45, filed conventionally Nov. 28, 2016, attached as Ex. 7 to
Motion for Summary Judgment, docket no. 44-7; 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos; Cruz Declaration ¶ 12;
Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 8); see also Response ¶ 29 at 54 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001369).
11
36.
Officer Cruz was wearing his dark tinted, department-issued, “duty Oakleys”
throughout the encounter with the three men. 58
37.
As the three men exited the 7-Eleven, Officer Cruz believed that all three of them
looked at him and the other officers, and he stated in his interview:
But what eased tensions in my mind, slightly, because they all lined up perfectly
for us. They were all perfectly lined up and that just made me feel so good inside.
All their hands were just down at their sides. I could see their hands and the
tensions just, I just felt it go down for a split second. 59
38.
Mr. Taylor appeared to look directly at Officer Cruz’s police vehicle approaching
from the east with its lights flashing as it moved in front of the path of the three men. 60
39.
Officer Cruz described that moment as: “He looks right at me for a split second he
turned around and he starts walking off.” 61
40.
Officer Cruz also stated in his interview:
Um, and as soon as [the two men raised their hands] it was pretty much
simultaneous in my mind. They did this and again, he looked dead at me and I
looked dead at him and as soon as they did that, he turns around and this is what I
see. 62
41.
Officer Cruz stated in his deposition that the first time he felt somewhere on the
“spectrum of fear” was “when [he] looked into [Mr. Taylor]’s eyes.” 63
58
Response ¶ 52 at 60 (citing Cruz Interview; Cruz Deposition at 45:20-21; Citizen Cell Video Still, docket no. 55,
filed conventionally May 22, 2017, attached as Ex. 12 to Cummings Declaration; Photos of Bron Cruz, attached as
Ex. 13 to Cummings Declaration).
59
Id. ¶ 30 at 54 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001369).
60
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 13 at 8 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos); see also Response
¶ 51 at 59-60 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos).
61
Response ¶ 51 at 59-60 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370), see also id. ¶ 53 at 60 (citing Cruz Bodycam
Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos).
62
Id. ¶ 49 at 59 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001375).
63
Id. ¶ 46 at 58 (citing Cruz Deposition at 35:9-12).
12
42.
In his interview, Officer Cruz explained:
Q:
Um, you said on first contact two of them complied. Put their hands up
just when you said the word, “Stop”?
A:
Yes.
Q:
But the third one looked at you – in the white shirt?
A:
In the white shirt.
Q:
And kept walking?
A:
He looked directly at me and ah, he turned around and walked off with –
and his hands, his hands is what, his hands is what did it.
Q:
You said that he, ah, looked at you with defiance?
A:
Yeah. He looked at me like, ah, he, I mean I don’t know how to explain it.
Um, you know but you can tell when you look into somebody’s eyes when
you’re working with them. Um, that’s when you know it’s, it’s, it’s ah, it’s
one of the clues that we have when we’re dealing with people. Um their
eyes can tell you a lot. Um, and his eyes were just complete just 100%
defiance. He had this, this, this look on his face like you know? Like I, ah,
hate? Um, um, and ah, like he was, he was not going to do anything that I
said. Um, and it was just a horrible feeling. Um, looking at him. Having
him, you know just the, it was just horrible. Just hate, defiance, that he had
in his eyes.
Q:
And you’ve seen this kinda look before you’re saying with, with
work-related circumstances?
A;
I’ve seen, ah, I don’t know that I’ve seen it like that. I mean, I’ve seen a
type of it before. I’ve seen it when people aren’t gonna comply and they
look at you like, “I’ll fight you first.”
Q:
Umm, hmm.
A:
“I’ll do whatever I need to do but you’re not, you’re not taking me down.”
Q:
Okay.
A:
Um, and, and that’s yeah, it was an extreme version of that. 64
43.
Mr. Taylor also appeared to look at Officer Sylleloglou’s police vehicle
approaching from the west as it moved in front of the three men. 65
64
Id. ¶ 48 at 58-59 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001374-75).
65
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 14 at 8 (citing 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos).
13
44.
Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou, wearing their patrol uniforms, exited their vehicles
and gave commands to the three men to stop and show their hands. 66
45.
Because one of the men was reportedly armed, Officer Sylleloglou drew his gun
in a low ready position, but did not aim at the three men. 67
46.
Two of the men, later identified as Jerrail and Adam, immediately stopped and
raised their hands. 68
47.
In his deposition, Officer Cruz described the initial encounter:
I exited my police car and all I did was tell the individuals to stop. I had already
gotten that look of defiance from [Mr. Taylor]. The other two immediately put
their hands in the air. . . . Right when I’m stopping my car. 69
48.
Officer Cruz explained in his interview that when he saw the two men with their
hands in the air:
[I]t scared the crap out of me when those two raised their hands. Like they knew
there was a gun or weapon was involved, that’s the only time they do that. They
never put their hands up like that. Those two put their hands straight up in the air
and that confirmed to me, even more, there was a gun involved. 70
***
So, the other two put their hands out, just like this. Um, and, and without any,
without any prompting that, this is what they did. Which, again, was very, it was
even more concerning. Uh, because people don’t do this when we contact them
unless we believe they have a gun. Or they’re armed. 71
66
Id. ¶ 15 at 8 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; 7-Eleven Video; Cruz Declaration ¶ 13; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 9);
see also Response ¶ 32 at 55 (citing Sylleloglou Deposition at 33:16-34:1; Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370).
67
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 16 at 8 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 9).
68
Id. ¶ 17 at 8 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos; Cruz
Declaration ¶ 14; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 10); see also Response ¶ 33 at 55 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz
Interview at SLCC 001370; Sylleloglou Deposition at 29:20-23).
69
Response ¶ 50 at 59 (citing Cruz Deposition at 45:4-7, 13).
70
Id. ¶ 34 at 55 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370).
71
Id. ¶ 35 at 55 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001375).
14
49.
Officer Downes stated in his deposition that in his experience the presence of
officers makes people put their hands up “a lot of the time.” 72
50.
Jerrail and Adam acknowledged that they both saw the marked police vehicles
approaching from opposite directions and uniformed police officers approaching the three men
and giving commands to stop and show their hands. 73
51.
The third man, wearing a white shirt and later identified as Mr. Taylor, looked at
the officers, but did not stop, and instead turned and walked in the opposite direction away from
the officers and Jerrail and Adam, moving back towards the entrance of the 7-Eleven. 74
52.
When Jerrail was asked if he thought there was any possible way that Mr. Taylor
could not have seen the three police vehicles and the officers approaching with their guns drawn,
he stated: “I don’t know how he didn’t see them.” 75
53.
Immediately upon his arrival, Officer Sylleloglou exited and ran around the front
of his vehicle in a south/west diagonal in pursuit of Mr. Taylor, who was walking away. 76
72
Id. ¶ 36 at 56 (citing Downes Deposition at 39:21-40:13).
73
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 18 at 9 (citing Video Recording of Jerrail Taylor Interview (“Jerrail Taylor
Interview”) at 11:04, docket no. 45, filed conventionally Nov. 28, 2016, attached as Exhibit A to Declaration of Joe
Sutera (“Sutera Declaration”), docket no. 44-9, filed Nov. 28, 2016; Video Recording of Adam Thayne Interview
(“Adam Thayne Interview”) at 11:43, docket no. 45, filed conventionally Nov. 28, 2016, attached as Exhibit A to
Hermansen Declaration); see also Response ¶ 40 at 56 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:03:55).
74
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 19 at 9 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; 7-Eleven Video;
7-Eleven Photos; Cruz Declaration ¶ 15; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 11); see also Response ¶ 44 at 57 (citing Jerrail
Taylor Interview at 11:05:06; Cruz Bodycam Video; 7-Eleven Photos).
75
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 22 at 9 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:10-11:11).
76
Response ¶ 31 at 55 (citing 7-Eleven Photos; Cruz Bodycam Photos); ¶ 58 at 61 (citing 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven
Photos).
15
54.
Officer Sylleloglou stated in his interview that he could not see Mr. Taylor clearly
at first:
[Mr. Taylor] was kinda covered by the red truck . . . cause he was kind of, sort of,
behind it. 77
***
I didn’t, I don’t remember seeing anything in his hands. Like I said, he was
partially obstructed by the red truck. 78
55.
Mr. Taylor was already walking away from Officer Cruz before Officer Cruz had
fully exited his vehicle and cleared its door. 79
56.
Officer Cruz initially followed some distance behind Mr. Taylor and Officer
Sylleloglou. 80
57.
After turning his attention to Mr. Taylor, Officer Cruz “wish[ed he] had another
couple guys to watch the other two [men,]” except that “their eyes looked harmless.” 81
58.
Mr. Taylor can be seen on the 7-Eleven surveillance video and still photos
walking back toward the 7-Eleven, and around the front of a red truck before heading west along
the front of the store. 82
59.
As Mr. Taylor walked away, Officer Sylleloglou shouted several times: “Hey, you
in the white shirt, stop.” Mr. Taylor did not stop or show his hands. 83
60.
Jerrail saw that Mr. Taylor was walking away and told him to “stop.” 84
77
Id. ¶ 88 at 67 (citing Sylleloglou Interview at 4:35)
78
Id. (citing Sylleloglou Interview at 5:18).
79
Id. ¶ 56 at 61 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos).
80
Id. ¶ 58 at 61 (citing 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos).
81
Id. ¶ 68 at 63 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370).
82
Id. ¶ 57 at 61 (citing 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos).
83
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 24 at 10 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 12).
84
Id. ¶ 20 at 9 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:18-11:19).
16
61.
When Jerrail saw Mr. Taylor walking away, he figured that Mr. Taylor was
avoiding contact with the officers. He stated in his interview: “I don’t know if he was ignoring
the cops, like, ‘Fuck it, I’m gonna cut through here and walk to the Trax.” 85
62.
Jerrail described the situation:
In my head, I’m thinking, my, my head’s, my adrenaline’s running, I’m thinking,
“What the fuck did I just do? I can’t walk in America and buy a goddamn drink
and a beer?” like, “What am I doing wrong here.” I’m all, “What the hell?” And
[Dillon] was like, “Ah shit,” you know what I’m saying? Like, “What the fuck did
we do.” So he was, “alright, y’all, fuck this.” He put his headphones in, walked
away, the next thing you know the cop was all, “Hey, stop, stop.” But he’s got his
headphones in, he can’t hear him. 86
63.
Jerrail saw Mr. Taylor’s headphones were in and was concerned Mr. Taylor could
not hear what the officers were saying behind him as he walked away. He stated in his interview:
“I was like, ‘What the fuck,’ and as I’m getting on the ground, I see [Dillon] walking, I’m like,
‘Oh fuck, here we go.’ I’m like, ‘Dude, just fuck stop,’ but he had his headphones in.” 87
64.
As Officer Downes arrived on the east side of the 7-Eleven parking lot, he saw
Jerrail and Adam standing by the police vehicles and that Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou were
pursuing Mr. Taylor as he walked away along the sidewalk next to the 7-Eleven. 88
65.
Officer Downes approached Jerrail and Adam where they were stopped and
detained them. 89
85
Response ¶ 42 at 57 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:04:20).
86
Id. ¶ 41 at 57 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:03:55-11:04:34); see also Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 21
at 9 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:04).
87
Response ¶ 43 at 57 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:05:06); Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 23 at 10
(citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:05).
88
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 52 at 14 (citing Downes Declaration ¶ 8).
89
Id. ¶ 53 at 14 (citing Downes Declaration ¶ 9).
17
66.
Jerrail and Adam began arguing with Officer Downes, asking him what was
happening and why the police were “hassling” them. The “back and forth” continued until
Officer Downes heard Officer Cruz fire his weapon. 90
67.
Officer Downes did not draw his gun on the two men. He explained in his
deposition: “Because I could see their hands, and they were – those two individuals were
essentially compliant. They were not fighting with me. We were just investigating. So, at that
point, it was not a threat.” 91 He noted further:
For me, the factors were we had information there was a possible weapon. The
two that I was dealing with did not present as an initial threat. They were not
playing with their waistband. They didn’t take a fighting stance. They stopped as
if I were to stop you, kind of questioning why. So that doesn’t register to me as an
initial threat.
Still we know there was a possible weapon. We don’t know if it was them or not
because a lot of criminals will hide that fact and act like everyone else. So there
was still caution.
I wanted to be close enough where I would be able to control the situation better
because [Officer] Cruz was going towards the other individual, and there were
civilians all around us, non-law enforcement personnel. So if they decided to
produce a weapon, there is no telling where those rounds are going to go. If I’m
standing too far back, I cannot maintain positive control. 92
68.
As Mr. Taylor walked away with Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou in pursuit, Officer
Downes remained with Jerrail and Adam. As the “backing officer,” he directed 20% of his
attention toward Officer Cruz and 80% of his attention toward Jerrail and Adam. 93
69.
Officer Downes continued to bounce back and forth between the two men and
looking in the direction of Officer Cruz, but with his focus on Mr. Taylor. 94
90
Response ¶ 37 at 56 (citing Downes Deposition at 41:24-42:7).
91
Id. ¶ 38 at 56 (citing Downes Deposition at 39:5-9), ¶ 67 at 63 (citing Downes Deposition at 39:5-9).
92
Id. ¶ 38 at 56 (citing Downes Deposition at 59:17-60:10), see also id. ¶ 39 at 56 (citing Downes Deposition at
44:19-21).
93
Id. ¶ 66 at 63 (citing Downes Deposition at 45:5-9).
94
Id. ¶ 69 at 63 (citing Downes Deposition at 45:5-6, 17-18, 46:12-13).
18
70.
Based on his understanding that one of the three men had a gun, Officer Cruz
believed that the gun was very likely in the possession of Mr. Taylor, who was walking away
and, unlike Jerrail and Adam, was not complying with the officers’ commands to stop. 95
71.
In his deposition, Officer Cruz explained: “I was maintaining distance at that –
yeah, I was not trying to close on somebody that I believed had a gun.” 96
72.
Officer Cruz stated that closing the distance would not “make any sense.” 97
73.
Officer Cruz’s body camera shows that Mr. Taylor was wearing a baggy t-shirt
and baggy pants. 98
74.
As Mr. Taylor walked along the side of the 7-Eleven away from Officers Cruz
and Sylleloglou with his back to them, he can be seen raising his hands to the sides of his
waist. 99
75.
Mr. Taylor then put his hands inside the front waistband of his pants, and made
digging motions with his hands, at which point Officer Cruz began training his weapon on Mr.
Taylor. 100
76.
Officer Cruz believed Mr. Taylor’s hands were concealed in his waistband area
due to the position of his elbows when viewed from behind. 101
77.
As Mr. Taylor continued walking along the sidewalk in front of the 7-Eleven,
Officer Cruz followed directly behind him, and Officer Sylleloglou walked south and west
95
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 30 at 10-11 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 16).
96
Response ¶ 60 at 61-62 (citing Cruz Deposition at 55:8-13).
97
Id. ¶ 61 at 62 (citing Cruz Deposition at 55:8-13).
98
Id. ¶ 82 at 66 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos).
99
Id. ¶ 81 at 65-66 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video).
100
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 33 at 11 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration
¶ 19; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 19); see also Response ¶ 89 at 67-68 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370).
101
Response ¶ 83 at 66 (citing Cruz Deposition at 49:7-14).
19
towards him, both shouting commands to “stop, you in the white shirt,” and “get your hands
out.” 102
78.
Mr. Taylor did not stop but continued walking west along the sidewalk. 103
79.
In his interview, Officer Cruz stated:
That was when I knew something was gonna be bad. Um, cause he looked right at
me, um, with complete, total defiance in his eyes. Um, and when his hands
disappeared that’s when I drew my gun. Because I knew his hands, they were like
this through his waistband.
And the way he looked at me? And then turned around? There was no doubt in
my mind what he was doing with his hands. 104
80.
Mr. Taylor’s “look,” combined with his turning around and walking away led
Officer Cruz to conclude that when Mr. Taylor’s hands went to his waistband:
I was 100%, 100% convinced when I saw him turn around that it was gonna be a
gunfight. I know he had that gun that he’d be trying to kill us there was nothing
else he could be doing than going for a gun. 105
81.
Mr. Taylor “calmly walk[ing] away” and “creating distance” also heightened
Officer Cruz’s distress at the situation:
Um, and it scared me even more that he wasn’t running away. He was buying
time. He was buying time and he was creating distance. That’s all he was doing.
Very calmly walked away. With his hands right in his waist band. 106
82.
Officer Sylleloglou also began training his gun on Mr. Taylor when he saw that
Mr. Taylor appeared to put his hands inside the front waistband of his pants. 107
102
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 31 at 11 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration
¶ 17; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 18; Adam Thayne Interview at 11:44; Downes Declaration ¶ 10).
103
Id. ¶ 32 at 11 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 18).
104
Response ¶ 47 at 58 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370).
105
Id. ¶ 54 at 60 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370-71).
106
Id. ¶ 59 at 61 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001370; 7-Eleven Video; 7-Eleven Photos).
107
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 26 at 10 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 14).
20
83.
Officer Sylleloglou was north of Mr. Taylor in the 7-Eleven parking lot and
walked in Mr. Taylor’s direction but staying perpendicular to Mr. Taylor as he walked westward,
while shouting repeated commands to Mr. Taylor to stop and show his hands. 108
84.
Mr. Taylor looked directly at Officer Sylleloglou with a “mean mug” look on his
face, meaning that it appeared he heard Officers Sylleloglou and Cruz shouting commands and
was deliberately ignoring their commands. Officer Sylleloglou described the look on Mr.
Taylor’s face as hostile and defiant. 109
85.
At this point, Mr. Taylor was no more than 15 feet in front of Officer Sylleloglou,
looking at him, but still walking away. 110
86.
Officer Sylleloglou was 100% certain that Mr. Taylor saw him, heard his
commands, and deliberately chose to ignore them. 111
87.
Jerrail recalled hearing Mr. Taylor say something along the lines of “what did we
do” in response to the officers’ commands. 112
88.
At some point during the interaction, Mr. Taylor said something to Officer
Sylleloglou about “shooting him.” When asked if he remembered exactly what Mr. Taylor said,
Officer Sylleloglou responded: “He said, ‘What are you gonna do, shh, I think it was – this is as
close to verbatim as I can get – ‘What are you gonna do, shoot me? What are you gonna do? You
gonna shoot me? You gonna shoot me?’” 113
108
Id. ¶ 35 at 11 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 21; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 18).
109
Id. ¶ 25 at 10 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 13).
110
Id. ¶ 28 at 10 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 16).
111
Id. ¶ 29 at 10 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 16).
112
Id. ¶ 41 at 12 (citing Jerrail Tayler Interview at 11:06); see also Response ¶ 65 at 62-63 (citing Jerrail Taylor
Interview at 11:05:42, 11:16:10).
113
Response ¶ 62 at 62 (citing Sylleloglou Interview at 6:00:00); see also Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 27 at 10
(citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 15).
21
89.
Officer Cruz never reported hearing this exchange. Instead, he only reported
hearing Mr. Taylor saying something about, “Make me,” after he turned around just before he
was shot. 114
90.
Officer Cruz continued to yell repeated commands to Mr. Taylor. “get your hands
out now, get your hands out, get your . . . get ‘em out!” 115
91.
Officer Sylleloglou stated in his interview, “[a]nd then I know I yelled at him
too . . . ‘let me see your . . . I think I may have just said, ‘Hands! Hands! Hands!’” When the
interviewer asked whether he remembered anything else Officer Cruz said, Officer Sylleloglou
responded: “No, I couldn’t, you know, I just . . . we were both kinda, I was just listening to him,
and then I would say something, I would say ‘hands,’ and he would yell ‘hey, hey, get your
hands! Get your hands out of your pock’ . . . I mean he was yelling at him to get his hands out of
there.” 116
92.
Mr. Taylor did not respond and continued walking away from Officers Cruz and
Sylleloglou with his hands remaining inside the front waistband of his pants. 117
93.
As Mr. Taylor reached the end of the sidewalk and began walking across the
parking lot of the 7-Eleven with Officer Cruz telling him to “get your hands out,” Mr. Taylor
turned around to directly face Officer Cruz, and Officer Cruz trained his weapon directly at Mr.
Taylor. 118
114
Response ¶ 63 at 62 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001371).
115
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 34 at 11 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Declaration ¶ 20); see also
Response ¶ 84 at 66 (citing Sylleloglou Interview at 2:34).
116
Response ¶ 85 at 66 (citing Sylleloglou Interview at 2:34).
117
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 36 at 12 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration
¶ 22; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 19).
118
Id. ¶ 37 at 12 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration ¶ 23; Sylleloglou
Declaration ¶ 20); see also Response ¶ 86 at 66 (citing Cruz Deposition at 55:14-17).
22
94.
Officer Downs heard Officer Cruz give Mr. Taylor the command, “Show me your
hands,” and saw Mr. Taylor continuing to walk backward. 119
95.
As Mr. Taylor faced Officer Cruz, he continued to walk backwards with both
hands inside the loose waistband of his pants, concealing his hands down to his wrists, and
moving them in a digging motion. 120
96.
When asked to describe the action of Mr. Taylor’s hands, Officer Cruz remarked
about Mr. Taylor’s “baggy” pants. The investigator asked, “Baggy?” and Officer Cruz
responded:
Like they usually are with people that we deal with when they’re concealing
things. But, ah, his hands were buried like this in his pants. Buried. . . . And when
they’re buried way, wrists deep and his sh – you know, he’s clawing at something
then he’s this. This is what I see. This is what I see in his baggy pants. This.
They’re not just sitting there. They’re just digging, digging and he has this look
on his face like, you, “Come and get me. I’m gonna fricken kill you.” 121
97.
While facing Officer Cruz, and as Officer Cruz continued to shout repeated
commands to “get your hands out,” Mr. Taylor said something which sounded like “what fool”
or “nah fool” on Officer Cruz’s bodycam video. 122
98.
Officer Cruz’s recollection was that Mr. Taylor said something at that moment
along the lines of “come and make me.” 123
119
Response ¶ 70 at 63 (citing Downes Deposition at 49:1-6).
120
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 38 at 12 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration
¶ 24; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 21).
121
Response ¶ 91 at 68-69 (citing Cruz Interview SLCC 001376-77).
122
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 39 at 12 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video); see also Response ¶ 64 at 62 (citing
Cruz Bodycam Video).
123
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 40 at 12 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 25); see also Response ¶ 90 at 68 (citing
Cruz Interview at SLCC 001375).
23
99.
When asked in his deposition how Mr. Taylor responded to his commands,
Officer Cruz recounted:
He didn’t. He responded by continually showing me that he was manipulating or
retrieving something from his pants, from his waistband. That is how he
responded. . . . And he – sorry. He also responded with the look of defiance. He
also responded verbally. 124
100.
Suddenly and without warning, while facing Officer Cruz, Mr. Taylor quickly
raised his left hand from inside the loose waistband of his pants, lifting his shirt and exposing his
lower torso. 125
101.
Mr. Taylor simultaneously brought his right hand out of his loose waistband of his
pants, but lower than his left hand. 126
102.
At that moment, Mr. Taylor was approximately 10 to 12 feet away from Officer
Cruz and 12 to 15 feet away from Officer Sylleloglou. 127
103.
Officer Downes saw Mr. Taylor lifting up his shirt but could not make anything
104.
In Officer Cruz’s interview, the investigator asked whether Mr. Taylor had
out. 128
manipulated his shirt. Officer Cruz responded:
I mean yeah, his shirt was you know eh, you know, his shirt was raising with his
pants. You know? It was this, this tugging motion. This drawing motion,
whatever . . . you know, I’m not sure what to call it. 129
124
Response ¶ 87 at 67 (citing Cruz Deposition at 57:4-8,11-12).
125
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 43 at 13 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration
¶ 26; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 22).
126
Id. ¶ 44 at 13 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration ¶ 26; Sylleloglou
Declaration ¶ 22).
127
Id. ¶ 45 at 13 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration ¶ 27; Scene Photos; Scaled
Drawing of Scene, attached as Exhibit B to Cruz Declaration; Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 23).
128
Response ¶ 71 at 63 (citing Downes Deposition at 49:7-11).
129
Id. ¶ 92 at 69 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001379-80).
24
105.
Believing that Mr. Taylor’s movements indicated he was “drawing” or reaching
for a gun, and that Mr. Taylor intended to fire on the officers, Officer Cruz acted in self-defense
by firing two shots in rapid succession, striking Mr. Taylor in the torso. 130
106.
According to the medical examiner, two rounds hit Mr. Taylor. one in his “upper
central chest” and a second one in the “right upper quadrant of [the] abdomen” which also grazed
the third and fourth fingers of his left hand. 131
107.
When asked by the investigator if Mr. Taylor’s hand ever came toward him,
Officer Cruz responded, “I could not – no, it didn’t because I could not wait that long.” 132
108.
When the investigator asked Officer Cruz if he thought Mr. Taylor might have
had a gun that could have caused harm to him or another, Officer Cruz responded:
I was convinced, 100% there was nothing else he was doing. Nothing else he
could have been doing then getting a gun t-t-to try and kill one of us. To try and
kill somebody. Nothing else. There was zero; nothing else made sense. Nothing
else. 133
109.
The investigator then asked how that made Officer Cruz feel. Officer Cruz
responded:
I was scared to death. The last thought I had go through my mind when I pulled
the trigger; and I’ll never forget this. Was uh, was that “I was too late. I was too
late. And because of that I was gonna get killed. Worse, my officer was gonna get
killed” . . . . And that was the shittiest feeling. . . . And I was like, “I’m gonna get
us killed.” 134
130
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 46 at 13 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Cruz Bodycam Photos; Cruz Declaration
¶ 28); see also Response ¶ 96 at 69 (citing Cruz Deposition at 60:12-17).
131
Id. ¶ 57 at 15 (citing Office of the Medical Examiner State of Utah Report of Investigation (“Medical Examiner’s
Report”) at 1, 5-6, docket no. 44-10, filed Nov. 28, 2016).
132
Response ¶ 97 at 70 (citing Cruz Deposition at 60:1-3, 7-8).
133
Id. ¶ 93 at 69 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001377).
134
Id. ¶ 94 at 69 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001377).
25
110.
Officer Cruz described the events to investigators:
I heard [Officer Sylleloglou], five to seven feet off to my right, I could see him in
my peripheral. He was yelling at him too. “Show us your hands. Stop. Show us
your hands.”
Um, and he turned around. He didn’t stop. He never stopped. He turned around.
Um, and it was only worse because his hands they were dove in his pants. They
were just completely wrist-deep in his pants and he wasn’t just warming up his
pants, his hands on a cold day. It wasn’t even cold.
Um, he wasn’t just hiding his hands. He was, he was digging at something. He
was manipulating something. I knew there was a gun in those pants. And, ah, at
that point I mean, my gun I’ve had it center-massed, trained on him and I was
yelling at him and he was looking directly at me, directly at my eyes. And I
looked directly in his eyes. And he looked at me like, “You’re not gonna. You’re
not gonna stop me.” Um, and, “I’m gonna kill you guys.”
And I think he said something. I don’t remember what he was saying. He was
yelling, “You make me.” Or, “you can’t make me,” or some crap. I, I can’t
remember. But we yelled at him. I yelled at him with every, as loud as I could.
“Let me see your hands. Let me see your hands.” And he looked down the barrel
of my gun. It just felt like an eternity. Um, and he, he didn’t. He kept digging. He
kept digging. Digging. Manipulating something in his pants.
And I knew he, he was ju – he’d already made up his mind and he just – I was just
giving him time to just kill one of us. I don’t know if the gun was caught or it if
was falling down? Or I, I don’t know. He was taking off the safety? I don’t know
what he was manipulating, something.
And I knew it was a deadly force situation. No doubt in my mind, no doubt in my
mind. I needed to see his damn hands. I couldn’t take the chance of him shooting
my officer or shooting me.
And, ah, and after I yelled at him for what felt like an eternity with my gun
trained right on him he did nothing but keep digging at that gun in his pants or
whatever the hell it was. Without any hesitation. Without any reservation in the
world I fired at him. And I would have kept firing until that deadly threat had
stopped. 135
111.
After firing his weapon, Officer Cruz called “shots fired” over the radio and
immediately requested medical attention. 136
135
Id. ¶ 89 at 67-68 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 002371-72).
136
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 48 at 14 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Dispatch Recording; Cruz Declaration
¶ 29).
26
112.
Officer Cruz then handcuffed Mr. Taylor, searched his pockets looking for a gun,
and rendered first aid. 137
113.
No gun was found. 138
114.
Mr. Taylor died at the scene. 139
115.
From the time Mr. Taylor turned around and came face-to-face with the officers
until he was shot is approximately four seconds. 140
116.
Minutes after Mr. Taylor was shot, Officer Sylleloglou explained to another
officer what had happened:
And uh, what happened was we found these two guys that are in our cars. The
dude in the white over here, he kept walking, and then he ignored us. So [Officer
Cruz] and I went up to him kind of, kind of cornered him like this. And he starts
doing this and he starts backing up like digging into his pock – like this, and then
he, and then he’s like, “get your hands out of your, get your hands out, get your
hands out, get your hands out,” and then as soon as he made an overt movement
to, to pull something we didn’t see it, and he just – he got a couple shots on him.
And he’s got his camera on. 141
117.
Officer Sylleloglou indicated that if Officer Cruz had not fired his weapon, he
likely would have fired his weapon in self-defense under the circumstances. 142
118.
From his position, Officer Downes heard gunshots but he did not see who fired
the shots. Officer Downes was more than 50 feet away from Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou at
that moment. 143
137
Id. ¶ 49 at 14 (citing Cruz Declaration ¶ 30).
138
Id. ¶ 50 at 14 (citing Complaint ¶ 60).
139
Id. ¶ 51 at 14 (citing Complaint ¶ 54).
140
Response ¶ 95 at 69 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video).
141
Id. ¶ 98 at 70 (citing Sylleloglou Bodycam Video at 3:09).
142
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 47 at 14 (citing Sylleloglou Declaration ¶ 25).
143
Id. ¶ 54 at 14 (citing Downes Declaration ¶¶ 11-12; Scene Photos; Scaled Drawing of Scene).
27
119.
Jerrail was already on the ground when he heard the two gunshots and did not see
what happened. 144
120.
When Jerrail was asked what he saw just before Mr. Taylor was shot, he
commented:
[A]s I was going down on the ground, I seen [Dillon] grab his pants like this, and
pull them up, you know pull his pants up, you know . . . we, we wear baggy ass
clothes, you can see that. He’s pullin’ his pants up, like, ‘shit what’s up nigga,
what’d we do?’ Or something to that effect. 145
121.
When Adam was asked what he saw just before Mr. Taylor was shot, he stated:
We went to 7-Eleven. We went in, we came out, the cops pulled their guns and
um, [Dillon] started walking away and I look over and I seen him get shot. I see
him, I see him, I think he tried to pull up his shorts or something, and they thought
he was reaching for a gun and so, all I know is I heard two gun shots and then the
officer screaming at me to get down. 146
122.
Adam also stated to officers that based on Mr. Taylor’s movements, he could see
why the officers thought that Mr. Taylor might have had a gun. 147
123.
When asked by investigators why Mr. Taylor failed to respond and what he might
have been doing with his hands, Jerrail responded that Mr. Taylor had a cell phone he used to
listen to music, and that “maybe [his hands were] in his pockets to get his damn phone, to change
the song on his phone.” When asked if Mr. Taylor had headphones, Jerrail answered, “Yeah,
that’s what he had when the cops were pulling their guns out and shot him.” 148
144
Id. ¶ 55 at 15 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:06).
145
Response ¶ 99 at 70 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:05:42).
146
Id. ¶ 100 at 70 (citing Adam Thayne Interview at 11:38:30).
147
Motion for Summary Judgment ¶ 56 at 15 (citing Adam Thayne Interview at 11:58).
148
Response ¶ 72 at 64 (citing Jerrail Taylor Interview at 11:03:06).
28
124.
Mr. Taylor’s cell phone can be seen protruding from his pocket in a photo taken
during the investigation following the shooting. 149
125.
After Mr. Taylor was shot, he initially fell to the ground on his left side and back.
Earbuds were still in his ears. After Officer Cruz had handcuffed Mr. Taylor and rolled him to
his back, the earbuds were visible next to Mr. Taylor’s head. 150
126.
During this process, for approximately the first three minutes after Officer Cruz
shot Mr. Taylor, Officer Cruz did not place on or otherwise wear any gloves. 151
127.
Officer Cruz straddled Mr. Taylor’s body looking north. In this position, Officer
Cruz bent his right knee forward, and reached his right arm behind his knee. His right arm and
hand appear to manipulate Mr. Taylor’s right pocket, where Mr. Taylor’s phone and earbud cord
were located. 152
128.
In this position which partially blocked the body camera view of Officer Cruz’s
right arm reaching, Officer Cruz appears to have laid or thrown the earbuds onto the ground next
to Mr. Taylor’s body. 153
129.
When Officer Cruz was asked during his interview if he saw the earbuds, he
stated: “I never saw any during the whole time when I was kneeling down by him I never once
say any kind of headphones.” 154
149
Id. ¶ 80 at 65 (citing Photo, attached as Ex. 15 to Cummings Declaration).
150
Id. ¶ 73 at 64 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video).
151
Id. ¶ 74 at 64 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video).
152
Id. ¶ 75 at 64 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Still Bodycam Photos, attached as Ex. 14 to Cummings Declaration).
153
Id. ¶ 76 at 64-65 (citing Cruz Bodycam Video; Still Bodycam Photos).
154
Id. ¶ 77 at 65 (citing Cruz Interview at SLCC 001374).
29
130.
In his deposition, Officer Cruz was asked about the earbuds, and stated:
Q:
When you first pulled up, had you seen the white cord, the earphones
anywhere on him?
A:
No.
Q:
And maybe I can limit the number of questions. At any point–
A:
No. I did not. 155
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Summary judgment is appropriate if “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact
and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” 156 A factual dispute is genuine when
“there is sufficient evidence on each side so that a rational trier of fact could resolve the issue
either way” 157 or “if a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” 158 A fact
is material if “it is essential to the proper disposition of [a] claim.” 159 And in ruling on a motion
for summary judgment, the factual record and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom are
viewed in a light most favorably to the nonmoving party. 160
The moving party “bears the initial burden of making a prima facie demonstration of the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact and entitlement to judgment as a matter of law.” 161
The movant “need not negate the nonmovant’s claim, but need only point out . . . that there is an
absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.” 162 If the moving party carries this
155
Id. ¶ 78 at 65 (citing Cruz Deposition at 50:6-17).
156
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
157
Adler v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 144 F.3d 664, 670 (10th Cir. 1998).
158
Universal Money Ctrs., Inc. v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 22 F.3d 1527, 1529 (10th Cir. 1994) (internal quotations
omitted).
159
Adler, 144 F.3d at 670.
160
Id.
161
Id. at 670-71.
162
Universal Money Ctrs., Inc., 22 F.3d at 1529 (internal quotations omitted).
30
initial burden, the nonmoving party “may not rest upon mere allegations or denials of [the]
pleading[s], but must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial as to
those dispositive matters for which it carries the burden of proof.” 163 “The mere existence of a
scintilla of evidence in support of the [nonmovant’s] position will be insufficient to defeat a
properly supported motion for summary judgment.” 164
DISCUSSION
Officer Cruz is entitled to qualified immunity on Plaintiffs’ excessive force claim
because his use of deadly force in the August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr. Taylor
did not violate a statutory or constitutional right
Plaintiffs claim Officer Cruz used excessive force when he employed deadly force during
the August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr. Taylor. 165 Office Cruz argues he is immune from suit
under the qualified immunity doctrine. 166
“Public officials are immune from suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless they have violated
a statutory or constitutional right that was clearly established at the time of the challenged
conduct.” 167 “Qualified immunity balances two important interests—the need to hold public
officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials
from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably.” 168 “The
protection of qualified immunity applies regardless of whether the government official’s error is
a mistake of law, a mistake of fact, or a mistake based on mixed questions of law and fact.” 169
163
Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted; emphasis in original).
164
Id. (internal quotations omitted).
165
Complaint ¶¶ 105-113.
166
Motion for Summary Judgment at 21-34.
167
City & Cty. of San Francisco v. Sheehan, 135 S. Ct. 1765, 1774 (2015) (internal quotations omitted).
168
Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009).
169
Id. (internal quotations omitted).
31
Thus, “[q]ualified immunity gives government officials breathing room to make reasonable but
mistaken judgments about open legal question,” and “protects all but the plainly incompetent or
those who knowingly violate the law.” 170
“Because qualified immunity is an immunity from suit rather than a mere defense to
liability it is effectively lost if a case is erroneously permitted to go to trial.” 171 “[T]he driving
force behind creation of the qualified immunity doctrine was a desire to ensure that insubstantial
claims against government officials will be resolved prior to discovery.” 172 And for this reason,
the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly “stressed the importance of resolving immunity questions
at the earliest possible stage in litigation.” 173
“[A] plaintiff seeking to avoid summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds must
satisfy a ‘heavy’ two-part burden.” 174 The plaintiff must show: “(1) that the official violated a
statutory or constitutional right, and (2) that the right was clearly established at the time of the
challenged conduct.” 175 The two prongs of qualified immunity may be analyzed in any sequence
based on the circumstances of the particular case. 176 In this case, it is necessary to address only
the first prong, i.e., whether Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force in the August 11, 2014 encounter
with Mr. Taylor violated a statutory or constitutional right.
Claims of excessive force are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment’s objective
reasonableness standard “judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather
170
Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 743 (2011) (internal quotations omitted).
171
Pearson, 555 U.S. at 231 (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).
172
Id. (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).
173
Id. at 232 (internal quotations omitted).
174
Mecham v. Frazier, 500 F.3d 1200, 1204 (10th Cir. 2007).
175
Ashcroft, 563 U.S. at 735 (internal quotations omitted).
176
Pearson, 555 U.S. at 236.
32
than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” 177 The objective reasonableness standard applies to any
use of force by a law enforcement officer “in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other
seizure.” 178
“[T]he test of reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment is not capable of precise
definition or mechanical application.” 179 “[I]ts proper application requires careful attention to the
facts and circumstances of each particular case” 180 to determine “whether the totality of the
circumstances justified the use of force.” 181 “[R]elevant factors include the crime’s severity, the
potential threat posed by the suspect to the officer’s and others’ safety, and the suspect’s attempts
to resist or evade arrest.” 182 And “[t]he calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for
the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments—in circumstances
that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—about the amount of force that is necessary in a
particular situation.” 183 Where the material facts are not in dispute, the objective legal
reasonableness of the officer’s use of force is a question of law. 184
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable in light of the dispatch report
of a man with a gun and the unknown motivations of the suspects
The first factor to consider in determining whether an officer’s use of force was
objectively reasonable is the crime’s severity. 185 Officer Cruz’s August 11, 2014 encounter with
177
Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989).
178
Id. at 395 (internal quotations omitted).
179
Id. at 396 (internal quotations omitted).
180
Id.
181
Estate of Larsen ex rel. Studivan v. Murr, 511 F.3d 1255, 1259 (10th Cir. 2009) (quoting Sevier v. City of
Lawrence, 60 F.3d 695, 699 (10th Cir. 1995)).
182
Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204 (internal quotations omitted).
183
Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97.
184
Roska ex rel. Roska v. Peterson, 328 F.3d 1230, 1251 (10th Cir. 2003).
185
Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204.
33
Mr. Taylor arose from a dispatch “report of a man with a gun.” 186 The dispatcher informed
officers the “suspect flashed a gun at the complainant but no threat was made;” no shots had
been fired; no one was in danger; the complainant was not cooperative and hung up on the call
taker; and the complainant refused to provide her identifying information. 187
The nature of the dispatch report could have led to a number of potential crimes, ranging
from misdemeanor to felony. 188 In Utah, the crimes of carrying a concealed firearm, including an
unloaded firearm, and openly carrying a loaded firearm on a public street are class B
misdemeanors. 189 But if the individual in possession of the firearm is a Category I or II restricted
person, the crime is a second or third degree felony. 190 The dispatch report could have also led to
no crime being committed because in Utah, individuals may openly transport unloaded
firearms. 191 This wide range of possibilities necessitated the dispatcher asking for any officers
“coming clear” to “check” the situation. 192
Officer Cruz mistakenly believed the dispatch report was for a group of men, one of
whom had “brandished” a weapon. 193 But he ultimately responded to ensure the suspect was not
a threat to public safety and to determine whether any laws had been or were being violated,
including a possible brandishing. 194 This necessarily required Officer Cruz, and the other
186
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 1.
187
Id. ¶¶ 1-2.
188
UTAH CODE ANN. §§ 76-10-500 through -532.
189
Id. § 76-10-504(1), -505(1)(b), (4).
190
Id. § 76-10-503(2)(a), (3)(a).
191
Id. § 76-10-500(1).
192
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 3.
193
Id. ¶¶ 4, 10.
194
Id. ¶ 5.
34
responding officers, to determine whether any of the suspects were armed, and if so, whether
their reason for carrying a firearm was innocent or nefarious.
Officer Cruz’s response to the unknowns of these circumstances was heightened
caution. 195 When he arrived in the area, he observed three men—Mr. Taylor, Jerrail, and
Adam—two of whom generally matched the descriptions provided by the dispatcher. 196 He
requested backup and decided to wait for that backup to arrive before approaching the
suspects. 197 He asked the dispatcher whether the report identified which of the three men flashed
the gun, and was told that the log did not indicate, 198 which added another unknown to the
situation. Officer Cruz also observed the three men and ran scenarios through his mind to be as
prepared as possible for the encounter with them. 199
While observing the three men, Officer Cruz saw Mr. Taylor walk up to a car stopped at
a red light and interact with the driver, while Jerrail and Adam were “throwing their hands in the
air, kind of making a big scene.” 200 Officer Cruz was unsure of what occurred in the exchange
and described it as “some kind of distraction or disturbance,” possibly “harassing the driver,” and
“not typical” and “unusual” since “you don’t just walk up to people in a crosswalk, somebody
that maybe you don’t know, and start engaging them while they are sitting in their car in
traffic.” 201 The exchange further heightened Officer Cruz’s caution regarding the three suspects.
195
Officers Sylleloglou and Downes also approached the situation with heightened caution because the suspect was
reportedly armed. Id. ¶¶ 45, 67.
196
Id. ¶ 13.
197
Id. ¶¶ 9, 14.
198
Id. ¶ 15.
199
Id. ¶¶ 14, 16-17, 20-21.
200
Id. ¶ 17.
201
Id. ¶ 18.
35
A witness also viewed the exchange and indicated that it appeared Mr. Taylor gave the
car’s driver a high-five. 202 This differing description of the exchange does not create a genuine
issue of material fact or render Officer Cruz’s reaction to the exchange unreasonable. The
witness observed the exchange from an obstructed vantage point 203 that was different than
Officer Cruz’s view. The witness also did not describe the actions of Jerrail and Adam during the
exchange. And the witness was not viewing the exchange from the prospective of an officer
responding to a dispatch report of a man with a gun. Moreover, what actually occurred during the
exchange is not material. Rather, it is Officer Cruz’s observation of and reaction to the exchange
that are material to determining whether his conduct was objectively reasonable.
Viewing the undisputed material facts in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs, the dispatch
report was for a minor crime or no crime at all. The complainant, being unidentified and
non-cooperative with the call taker, 204 also casts doubt regarding whether a crime had been
committed. 205 And prior to making contact with the suspects, Officer Cruz did not observe
anything suggestive of a more serious crime. But even so, a reasonable officer in the same
circumstances would approach the situation with heightened caution—just as Officer Cruz did—
based on the potential threat to safety posed by a firearm’s presence and a suspect’s unknown
motivations. When this heightened caution is considered in the totality of the circumstances—
and particularly in light of Mr. Taylor’s conduct after the officers made contact—the severity of
202
Id. ¶ 19.
203
Id.
204
Id. ¶ 2.
205
Florida v. J.L., 529 U.S. 266, 270 (1999) (“Unlike a tip from a known informant whose reputation can be
assessed and who can be held responsible if her allegations turn out to be fabricated . . . an anonymous tip alone
seldom demonstrates the informant’s basis of knowledge or veracity[.]”) (internal citations and quotations omitted).
36
the crime factor weighs in favor of a finding that Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was
objectively reasonable.
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable in light of the potential threat
of serious physical harm posed by Mr. Taylor
The second factor to consider in determining whether an officer’s use of force was
objectively reasonable is the potential threat posed by the suspect to the officer and others’
safety. 206 Specific to the use of deadly force, a defendant’s conduct is justified if a reasonable
officer in the defendant’s position would have probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a
potential threat of serious physical harm, either to the officer or to others. 207 “[E]ven if an officer
reasonably, but mistakenly, believed that a suspect was likely to fight back the officer would be
justified in using more force than in fact was needed.” 208 “A reasonable officer need not await
the ‘glint of steel’ before taking self-protective action; by then, it is ‘often . . . too late to take
safety precautions.’” 209
In assessing the degree of threat facing an officer in deadly force cases, the following
nonexclusive factors are considered: “(1) whether the officers ordered the suspect to drop his
weapon, and the suspect's compliance with police commands; (2) whether any hostile motions
were made with the weapon towards the officers; (3) the distance separating the officers and the
suspect; and (4) the manifest intentions of the suspect.” 210 Each of these factors supports a
finding that a reasonable officer on the scene would have probable cause to believe that Mr.
Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
206
Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204.
207
Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11 (1985); Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260.
208
Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260 (internal quotations and punctuation omitted).
209
Id. (quoting People v. Morales, 603 N.Y.S.2d 319, 320 (N.Y. App. Div. 1993)).
210
Id.
37
Mr. Taylor refused to comply with the officers’ repeated commands that he stop and
show his hands
Plaintiffs argue that material issues of fact exist regarding whether Mr. Taylor was aware
of the officers’ interest in him and whether he could hear their commands because he was
wearing headphones. 211 Plaintiffs’ argument lacks merit. Viewing the undisputed material facts
in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs, it cannot be reasonably questioned that Mr. Taylor was
aware of the officers’ presence; that he heard and verbally responded to the officers’ commands;
and that he deliberately refused to comply with their commands. And regardless, the qualified
immunity analysis does not focus on Mr. Taylor’s subjective understanding of the situation. Nor
does it turn on whether Officer Cruz was aware that Mr. Taylor was wearing headphones. 212
Rather, the focus of the inquiry is whether a reasonable officer under the circumstances would
believe that Mr. Taylor was aware of the officers’ presence, heard their commands, and refused
to comply. 213
Officers Cruz, Sylleloglou, and Downes never saw a firearm in Mr. Taylor’s
possession, 214 and no gun was found at the scene. 215 However, the officers were responding to a
dispatch “report of a man with a gun.” 216 The suspects—Mr. Taylor, Jerrail, and Adam—were in
the area of the report and two of them generally matched the descriptions provided by the
211
Response at 83-84; supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 62-63, 123-125.
212
Officer Cruz indicated that he did not see Mr. Taylor wearing headphones, but the video and photographic
evidence shows that after Mr. Taylor was shot, Officer Cruz appeared to have laid or thrown the headphones onto
the ground while he searched Mr. Taylor. Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 124-130. This potential inconsistency is not
material.
213
Garner, 471 U.S. at 11; Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260.
214
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 54, 103, 107, 110, 116.
215
Id. ¶ 113.
216
Id. ¶ 1.
38
dispatcher. 217 When the officers made contact, Jerrail and Adam immediately stopped and raised
their hands. 218 Mr. Taylor, on the other hand, turned around, put his headphones in, and began
walking away from the officers towards the entrance of the 7-Eleven. 219
Officer Cruz believed that Mr. Taylor looked directly at him and the other officers when
they approached in their police vehicles as he exited the 7-Eleven. 220 But Officer Cruz was
wearing dark-tinted sunglasses, 221 which arguably might have obscured his ability to determine
whether Mr. Taylor looked at him as Officer Cruz approached in his vehicle. However, the video
and photographic evidence show that Mr. Taylor appeared to look directly at Officer Cruz’s
police vehicle as it approached—with its red and blue emergency lights flashing—and blocked
his path. 222 Mr. Taylor also appeared to look directly at Officer Sylleloglou’s police vehicle as it
moved in front of the three men. 223 And when Jerrail was asked if he thought there was any
possible way that Mr. Taylor could not have seen the police vehicles and the officers
approaching with their guns drawn, he stated: “I don’t know how he didn’t see them.” 224
By immediately turning and walking away when the police vehicles blocked his path, 225
Mr. Taylor’s conduct would suggest to a reasonable officer that Mr. Taylor was aware of the
police presence, and that he was attempting to evade the officers. Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou
217
Id. ¶ 13.
218
Id. ¶¶ 40, 42, 47.
219
Id. ¶¶ 39-40, 42, 51, 58, 62-63.
220
Id. ¶¶ 37, 39-42.
221
Id. ¶ 36.
222
Id. ¶¶ 32-33, 35, 38.
223
Id. ¶ 43.
224
Id. ¶ 52.
225
Id. ¶¶ 39-40, 42, 51, 58, 62-63.
39
pursued Mr. Taylor, 226 shouting repeated commands that he stop and show his hands. 227 But Mr.
Taylor continued walking away from the officers and placed his hands “wrist-deep” inside the
front waistband of his pants, moving them in a digging motion. 228
Then, as Mr. Taylor continued walking away from the officers while they shouted
commands for him to stop and show his hands, 229 he looked directly at Officer Sylleloglou with
a “mean mug” look on his face and verbally responded. 230 It is unknown exactly what Mr. Taylor
said. But it is undisputed that he was speaking to Officer Sylleloglou and said something along
the lines of “what did we do?” 231 and “what are you gonna do, shoot me? What are you gonna
do? You gonna shoot me? You gonna shoot me?” 232 Officer Sylleloglou described the look on
Mr. Taylor’s face as hostile and defiant. 233 Mr. Taylor also later turned around to directly face
Officer Cruz, 234 indicating that he was aware of Officer Cruz’s presence behind him. Officer
Cruz described the look on Mr. Taylor’s face as defiant, like “come and get me. I’m gonna
fricken kill you.” 235
Plaintiffs argue that Officer Cruz’s description of Mr. Taylor’s look is not credible
because Officer Cruz was looking in the direction of the sun. 236 But this argument lacks merit
226
Id. ¶¶ 53, 56, 64.
227
Id. ¶¶ 50, 59, 77; 83, 90-91, 93-94, 97, 110, 116.
228
Id. ¶¶ 59, 70, 75, 78, 92, 94-96, 99, 110, 116.
229
Id. ¶¶ 59, 77, 83.
230
Id. ¶¶ 84, 87-88.
231
Id. ¶ 87.
232
Id. ¶ 88.
233
Id. ¶ 84.
234
Id. ¶¶ 89, 93-94, 97-98.
235
Id. ¶¶ 96, 99.
236
Response at 76; Cruz Bodycam Video.
40
based on the undisputed material facts. Officer Cruz was wearing dark-tinted sunglasses, 237
which would have ameliorated the effect of the sun. Moreover, Officer Sylleloglou described the
look on Mr. Taylor’s face as being hostile and defiant just seconds before Mr. Taylor turned to
face Officer Cruz. 238 And after turning to face Officer Cruz, while continuing to walk backwards
away from the officers, Mr. Taylor verbally responded to Officer Cruz in a defiant tone. 239 It is
undisputed that he said something to Officer Cruz which sounded like “what fool” or “nah
fool.” 240 It is also undisputed that during the verbal exchanges with Officers Sylleloglou and
Cruz, Mr. Taylor continued walking away from the officers with his hands concealed in the front
waistband of his pants, moving them in a digging motion. 241
Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou both believed that Mr. Taylor heard their commands and
deliberately chose to ignore them. 242 A reasonable officer under these circumstances would also
believe that Mr. Taylor was aware of the officers’ presence, heard their commands, and refused
to comply. This supports a finding that a reasonable officer would have probable cause to believe
that Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
Mr. Taylor made a sudden and hostile “draw stroke motion” with his hands while
refusing to comply with the officers’ commands, and while directly facing Officer Cruz
Plaintiffs argue that material issues of fact exist regarding whether Mr. Taylor made a
hostile motion towards the officers. 243 Plaintiffs rely on Jerrail and Adam’s statements that they
237
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 36.
238
Id. ¶ 84; Cruz Bodycam Video.
239
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 97; Cruz Bodycam Video.
240
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 97.
241
Id. ¶¶ 75, 78, 84, 86, 92, 94-99, 110, 116.
242
Id. ¶¶ 84, 86, 99, 110.
243
Response at 82-83.
41
believed Mr. Taylor was pulling up his pants, 244 or that Mr. Taylor’s hands could have been in
his pockets manipulating his phone. 245 Plaintiffs also argue that Mr. Taylor could have been
attempting to comply with the officers’ commands that he show his hands. 246 However, the focus
of the inquiry is not on what Jerrail and Adam believed Mr. Taylor was doing with his hands, or
what Mr. Taylor subjectively intended with his hand movements. Rather, the focus is whether a
reasonable officer under the circumstances would believe that Mr. Taylor was making a hostile
motion with a weapon towards the officers. 247 The undisputed material facts and video and
photographic evidence of the moments when Mr. Taylor was shot demonstrate that a reasonable
officer would believe that Mr. Taylor made a hostile motion with a weapon towards the officers.
Based on his understanding that one of the three men had a gun, Officer Cruz reasonably
believed that the gun was very likely in the possession of Mr. Taylor, who was walking away
from the officers and, unlike Jerrail and Adam, was not complying with the officers’ commands
to stop. 248 As Mr. Taylor walked along the side of the 7-Eleven away from Officers Cruz and
Sylleloglou with his back to them, he raised his hands to the sides of his waist. 249 It is clear from
the video and photographic evidence that when Mr. Taylor did this, he was pulling up his baggy
pants. 250
244
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 120-121, 123.
245
Id. ¶ 123.
246
Response at 78, 82-83.
247
Garner, 471 U.S. at 11; Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260.
248
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 70.
249
Id. ¶ 74.
250
Id. ¶¶ 73-74.
42
However, Mr. Taylor then made a separate, distinct movement with his hands: he put his
hands inside the front waistband of his pants, and made digging motions with them. 251 Officer
Cruz reasonably believed Mr. Taylor’s hands were concealed in his waistband area due to the
position of his elbows as he viewed Mr. Taylor from behind. 252 It was not until this point—when
Mr. Taylor concealed his hands in the front waistband of his pants—that Officers Cruz and
Sylleloglou began training their weapons on Mr. Taylor. 253 It was also at this point that Officer
Cruz was convinced that Mr. Taylor had a gun, and that Mr. Taylor was “buying time” by
“calmly walk[ing] away” and “creating distance” before a “gunfight” ensued. 254 But instead of
firing his weapon at Mr. Taylor, Officer Cruz continued to shout commands, along with Officer
Sylleloglou, for Mr. Taylor to stop and show his hands. 255
Mr. Taylor continued walking away from the officers with his hands “wrist-deep” in the
front waistband of his pants, moving them in a digging motion. 256 Viewing the undisputed
material facts in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs, Mr. Taylor’s hands could have been
manipulating his phone at this time. 257 But the officers were responding to a dispatch report of a
man with a gun. 258 And they were faced with a suspect that was aware of their presence and
interest in him, and who was not complying with their commands that he stop and show his
hands. 259 Under these circumstances, a reasonable officer would believe that Mr. Taylor was in
251
Id. ¶ 75.
252
Id. ¶ 76.
253
Id. ¶¶ 75, 79, 82.
254
Id. ¶¶ 79-81.
255
Id. ¶¶ 77; 83, 90-91, 93-94, 97, 110, 116.
256
Id. ¶¶ 92, 95-96, 99.
257
Id. ¶¶ 123-124.
258
Id. ¶ 1.
259
Supra Discussion at 37-41.
43
possession of a weapon and a reasonable officer would take measures to be prepared to act in
self-defense or the defense of others—just as Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou did by training their
weapons on Mr. Taylor. 260 As Officer Downes noted, “there were civilians all around us, nonlaw enforcement personnel. So if they decided to produce a weapon, there is no telling where
those rounds are going to go.” 261
Mr. Taylor’s conduct at this point further escalated the situation. He looked at Officer
Sylleloglou with a “mean mug” look on his face, which Officer Sylleloglou described as hostile
and defiant. 262 He also verbally responded to Officer Sylleloglou in a defiant manner. 263 He then
turned around to directly face Officer Cruz and, with a hostile look on his face, verbally
responded to Officer Cruz in a defiant tone. 264
While facing Officer Cruz, Mr. Taylor suddenly and without warning quickly raised his
hands in a “draw stroke” motion. 265 His left hand moved from inside the waistband of his pants,
lifting his shirt and exposing his lower torso, 266 while simultaneously he brought his right hand
out of his waistband but lower than his left hand. 267 It was at this point, believing that Mr.
Taylor’s movements indicated he was “drawing” or reaching for a gun, and that Mr. Taylor
intended to fire on the officers, Officer Cruz acted in self-defense by firing two shots in rapid
succession, striking Mr. Taylor in the torso. 268
260
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 75, 79, 82
261
Id. ¶ 67.
262
Id. ¶ 84.
263
Id. ¶¶ 87-88.
264
Id. ¶¶ 93, 96-97, 99; Cruz Bodycam Video.
265
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 100-101, 104-105, 116.
266
Id. ¶ 100.
267
Id. ¶ 101.
268
Id. ¶¶ 105, 110.
44
It is clear from the video and photographic evidence that the “drawing” motion of Mr.
Taylor’s hands is not similar to when Mr. Taylor earlier put his hands on his waist to pull up his
pants. 269 That one of Officer Cruz’s rounds struck Mr. Taylor in the “right upper quadrant of
[the] abdomen” also grazing the third and fourth fingers of his left hand is also inconsistent with
the theory that Mr. Taylor was pulling up his pants. 270 Moreover, although Jerrail suggested Mr.
Taylor was pulling up his pants, 271 it is undisputed that Jerrail was already on the ground when
he heard the two gunshots and did not see what happened. 272 Adam also stated to officers that
based on Mr. Taylor’s movements, he could see why the officers thought Mr. Taylor might have
had a gun. 273 And Officer Sylleloglou indicated that he likely would have fired his weapon in
self-defense under the circumstances, if Officer Cruz had not fired. 274
The undisputed material facts also do not reasonably suggest that Mr. Taylor abruptly
decided to become compliant with the officers’ commands that he stop and show his hands. To
the contrary, the undisputed material facts demonstrate that less than four seconds before he was
shot, 275 Mr. Taylor turned to directly face Officer Cruz and, with a hostile look on his face,
verbally responded to Officer Cruz in a defiant tone. 276 He then made a sudden motion with his
269
Compare id. ¶ 74, with id. ¶ 100; Cruz Bodycam Video.
270
Id. ¶ 106.
271
Id. ¶ 120.
272
Id. ¶ 119.
273
Id. ¶ 122.
274
Id. ¶ 117.
275
Id. ¶ 115.
276
Id. ¶¶ 93, 96-97, 99.
45
hands that from the video and photographic evidence is consistent with a “draw stroke.” 277 And
when he was shot, Mr. Taylor was continuing to walk backwards away from the officers. 278
Although Mr. Taylor’s hand did not ever come toward Officer Cruz, 279 and no gun was
found in Mr. Taylor’s possession, 280 the confirmed presence of a weapon is not required before a
reasonable officer takes self-protective action. 281 Given all the facts now known, it could be
assumed that Mr. Taylor was pulling up his pants, manipulating his phone with his hands, or
attempting to comply with the officers’ commands that he show his hands. But “[t]he calculus of
reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make
split-second judgments—in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—about
the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” 282 Officers are “justified in using
more force than in fact was needed” if the officers “reasonably, but mistakenly, believed that a
suspect was likely to fight back[.]” 283
A reasonable officer under the circumstances of this case would believe that Mr. Taylor’s
sudden “draw stroke” motion with his hands was a hostile motion made with a weapon towards
the officers. And this supports a finding that a reasonable officer would have probable cause to
believe that Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
277
Id. ¶¶ 100-101, 104-105, 116.
278
Id. ¶ 95.
279
Id. ¶ 107.
280
Id. ¶ 113.
281
Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260 (quoting Morales, 603 N.Y.S.2d at 320).
282
Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97.
283
Murr, 511 F.3d at 1260 (“[E]ven if an officer reasonably, but mistakenly, believed that a suspect was likely to
fight back the officer would be justified in using more force than in fact was needed.”) (internal quotations and
punctuation omitted).
46
Mr. Taylor and Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou were in close proximity during the
encounter
Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou arrived at the scene in their police vehicles forming a
barricade or “V” in the 7-Eleven parking lot blocking the path of Mr. Taylor, Jerrail, and
Adam. 284 Officer Sylleloglou immediately exited and ran around the front of his vehicle in a
south/west diagonal in pursuit of Mr. Taylor, who was walking away. 285 Officer Cruz initially
followed some distance behind Mr. Taylor and Officer Sylleloglou, but was closing the
distance. 286 This was because Mr. Taylor was already walking away from Officer Cruz before he
had fully exited his vehicle and cleared its door. 287 Officer Cruz then maintained his distance
from Mr. Taylor after Mr. Taylor concealed his hands in the font waistband of his pants. 288
When Mr. Taylor looked at Officer Sylleloglou with a “mean mug” look on his face and
verbally responded to Officer Sylleloglou, the distance between the two was no more than 15
feet. 289 Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou were five to seven feet apart when Mr. Taylor turned
around to face Officer Cruz. 290 And at the moment he was shot, Mr. Taylor was approximately
10 to 12 feet away from Officer Cruz, and 12 to 15 feet away from Officer Sylleloglou. 291
Officer Downes was detaining Jerrail and Adam in the parking lot in front of the 7-Eleven
approximately 50 feet away from Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou. 292
284
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 35.
285
Id. ¶ 53.
286
Id. ¶ 56; Cruz Bodycam Video.
287
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 55.
288
Id. ¶ 71; Cruz Bodycam Video.
289
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 85
290
Id. ¶ 110.
291
Id. ¶ 102.
292
Id. ¶¶ 65, 118.
47
The close proximity of Mr. Taylor and Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou further
demonstrates that a reasonable officer would believe that Mr. Taylor was aware of the officers’
presence and could hear their commands that he stop and show his hands. 293 The close proximity
also demonstrates that Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou were close enough to Mr. Taylor to observe
his movements and facial expressions as they pursued him. And the close proximity
demonstrates that Officer Cruz was faced with a split-second decision when Mr. Taylor made the
sudden “draw stroke” motion with his hands. 294 In that split-second, Officer Cruz fired his
weapon, 295 and Officer Sylleloglou likely would have fired his weapon had Officer Cruz not
fired. 296 Given these circumstances, the close proximity of Mr. Taylor and Officers Cruz and
Sylleloglou supports a finding that a reasonable officer would have probable cause to believe that
Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
Mr. Taylor manifested hostile and defiant intentions in relation to the officers
From the moment the officers arrived at the 7-Eleven parking lot until the time he was
shot, Mr. Taylor’s conduct demonstrated an intention to be hostile and defiant in relation to the
officers. He immediately turned and walked away when the police vehicles blocked his path. 297
He then continued to walk away while Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou pursued him shouting
commands that he stop and show his hands. 298 Despite being aware of the officers’ presence and
interest in him, and hearing their commands, Mr. Taylor refused to comply. 299 He defiantly
293
Supra Discussion at 37-41.
294
Id. at 41-47.
295
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 105, 110.
296
Id. ¶ 117.
297
Id. ¶¶ 39-40, 42, 51, 58, 62-63.
298
Id. ¶¶ 50, 59, 70, 77-78, 83, 90-95, 99, 110, 116.
299
Supra Discussion at 37-41.
48
concealed his hands in the front waistband of his pants, moving them in a digging motion; 300 he
looked at the officers with a hostile and defiant look on his face while the officers pursued
him; 301 he verbally responded to the officers in a defiant manner and tone; 302 and he continued
walking away from the officers. 303 Finally, when directly facing Officer Cruz, being no more
than 12 feet away and with Officer Cruz’s weapon trained on him, Mr. Taylor made a sudden
and hostile “draw stroke” motion with his hands.304
A reasonable officer under these circumstances would believe that Mr. Taylor’s manifest
intentions were hostile and defiant in relation to the officers. This supports a finding that a
reasonable officer would have probable cause to believe that Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat
of serious physical harm to the officer or others.
Conclusion: Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to the officers
or others
A reasonable officer on the scene of the August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr. Taylor
would believe that: (1) Mr. Taylor was aware of the officers’ presence and interest in him, heard
the officers’ commands that he stop and show his hands, and refused to comply; 305 (2) Mr.
Taylor’s sudden “draw stroke” motion with his hands was a hostile motion made with a weapon
towards the officers; 306 (3) the close proximity of Mr. Taylor and Officers Cruz and Sylleloglou
necessitated a split-second decision by the officers when Mr. Taylor made the sudden “draw
300
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 75-76, 79-82, 84, 86, 92, 95-65, 99, 110, 116.
301
Id. ¶¶ 84, 96, 99, 110.
302
Id. ¶¶ 87-88, 97, 99, 110.
303
Id. ¶¶ 92, 94-95.
304
Id. ¶¶ 93, 100-102, 104-105, 116.
305
Supra Discussion at 37-41.
306
Id. at 41-46.
49
stroke”; 307 and (4) Mr. Taylor’s manifest intentions were hostile and defiant in relation to the
officers. 308 Because of this, a reasonable officer under the circumstances would have probable
cause to believe that Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to the officer or
others. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of a finding that Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force
was objectively reasonable.
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable in light of Mr. Taylor’s
attempts to resist or evade arrest
The third factor in determining whether an officer’s use of force was objectively
reasonable is the suspect’s attempts to resist or evade arrest. 309 Plaintiffs argue that material
issues of fact exist regarding whether Mr. Taylor was resisting or evading arrest. 310 Plaintiffs
argue that Mr. Taylor could not hear the officers’ commands that he stop and show his hands
because he was wearing headphones. 311 Plaintiffs also argue that Mr. Taylor was not threatening
or actively resisting arrest because he was slowly and calmly walking away from the officers. 312
But these facts cannot be viewed in isolation. They must be considered in the totality of the
circumstances “judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with
the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” 313
Viewing the undisputed material facts in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs, it cannot be
reasonably questioned that Mr. Taylor was aware of the officers’ presence; that he heard and
verbally responded to the officers’ commands; and that he deliberately refused to comply with
307
Id. 46-47.
308
Id. 48-49.
309
Mecham, 500 F.3d at 1204.
310
Response at 83-85.
311
Id.; supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 62-63, 123-125.
312
Response at 84; supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 81.
313
Graham, 490 U.S. at 396; Murr, 511 F.3d at 1259.
50
their commands. 314 A reasonable officer under the circumstances would believe that Mr. Taylor
was aware of the officers’ presence, heard their commands, and refused to comply. 315 Mr. Taylor
immediately walked away from the officers when the police vehicles blocked his path. 316 When
Jerrail saw Mr. Taylor walking away, he told Mr. Taylor to “stop,” and figured that Mr. Taylor
was avoiding contact with the officers. 317 Mr. Taylor continued walking away from the officers
despite their pursuit and commands that he stop and show his hands, even when directly facing
Officer Cruz with Officer Cruz’s weapon trained on him. 318 Mr. Taylor’s manifest intentions
were hostile and defiant in relation to the officers throughout the encounter. 319 And Mr. Taylor
made a sudden and hostile “draw stroke” motion with his hands while directly facing Officer
Cruz in close proximity. 320 A reasonable officer under these circumstances would believe that
Mr. Taylor was attempting to resist or evade arrest. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of a
finding that Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable.
Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable under the totality of the
circumstances
Viewing the totality of the circumstances, Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force during the
August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr. Taylor was objectively reasonable. He approached the
situation with heightened caution based on the dispatch report of a man with a gun and the
unknown motivations of the suspects. 321 He reasonably believed that Mr. Taylor was in
314
Supra Discussion at 37-41.
315
Id.
316
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 39-40, 42, 51, 58, 62-63.
317
Id. ¶¶ 60-61.
318
Id. ¶¶ 50, 59, 70, 77-78, 83, 90-95, 99, 110, 116.
319
Supra Discussion at 48-49.
320
Id at 41-47.
321
Id. at 32-36.
51
possession of a firearm, and that Mr. Taylor posed a potential threat of serious physical harm to
the officers or others. 322 And he reasonably believed that Mr. Taylor was attempting to resist or
evade arrest. 323
Plaintiffs argue that Officer Cruz unreasonably believed and acted as though the dispatch
report was for a more serious crime; was overly fearful before and during the encounter; and that
rather than taking cover or creating distance, Officer Cruz’s conduct exacerbated the situation. 324
But Plaintiffs’ argument relies on statements Officer Cruz made after the encounter and their
own selected facts, 325 while ignoring the totality of the circumstances. Viewing the undisputed
material facts in their totality, and in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs, Officer Cruz’s conduct
before and during the encounter did not recklessly or deliberately create the need for his use of
deadly force.
The undisputed material facts demonstrate that Officer Cruz requested backup, and
waited for backup to arrive before approaching Mr. Taylor, Jerrail, and Adam. 326 He asked the
dispatcher whether the report identified which of the three men flashed the gun, and he ran
scenarios through his mind to prepare himself for the encounter. 327 And upon initiating contact,
Officer Cruz ensured the three men were aware of the police presence and interest in them by
activating the emergency lights on his police vehicle, blocking the men’s path with his vehicle,
and giving commands that the men stop and show their hands, 328.
322
Id. at 36-48.
323
Id. at 48-50.
324
Response at 74-83.
325
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 6, 10, 18, 21, 29, 32-33, 37, 41-42, 48, 56-57, 71, 79-81, 96, 107-110.
326
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 9, 14.
327
Id. ¶¶ 15, 21.
328
Id. ¶¶ 32-33, 35, 38, 44.
52
Then, as Mr. Taylor walked away, Officer Cruz pursued while continually shouting
commands that Mr. Taylor stop and show his hands. 329 He initially followed some distance
behind Mr. Taylor, but was closing the distance. 330 However, after Mr. Taylor concealed his
hands in the front waistband of his pants, Officer Cruz maintained his distance from Mr. Taylor
and readied himself to take self-protective measures by drawing his weapon and training it on
Mr. Taylor. 331
Officer Cruz was convinced at this point that Mr. Taylor was armed and “creating
distance” before engaging in a “gunfight,” but he continued shouting commands for Mr. Taylor
to stop and show his hands. 332 It was not until after Mr. Taylor turned around to directly face
him, verbally responded in a defiant tone and with a hostile look on his face, and made an sudden
“draw stroke” motion with his hands, that Officer Cruz employed deadly force. 333 It is neither
helpful nor relevant to undergo a “retrospective inquiry” to suggest that “[p]erhaps the situation
might have been more peacefully resolved” had Officer Cruz acted differently. 334 Officer Cruz’s
conduct must be evaluated “from the on-scene perspective, not with the advantage of 20/20
hindsight.” 335 And the totality of the circumstances demonstrate that Officer Cruz adequately
performed his duties as a reasonable law enforcement officer by taking steps to prevent a
potentially armed suspect from causing serious physical harm to the officers or others.
329
Id. ¶¶ 50, 90-91, 93-94, 97, 110, 116.
330
Id. ¶ 56; Cruz Bodycam Video.
331
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 71, 75, 79; Cruz Bodycam Video.
332
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶¶ 78-81, 90-91, 93-94, 97, 110, 116.
333
Id. ¶¶ 93, 96-97, 99, 100-101, 104-105, 100, 116; Cruz Bodycam Video.
334
Jiron v. City of Lakewood, 392 F.3d 410, 418 (10th Cir. 2004).
335
Id.
53
Ultimately, Officer Cruz was in close proximity and directly facing Mr. Taylor—an
individual whom a reasonable officer on the scene would believe is a potentially armed suspect
that is noncompliant, hostile, and defiant. 336 Officer Cruz was then forced to make a spit-second
decision to take self-protective action when Mr. Taylor made a sudden and hostile “draw stroke”
motion with his hands. 337 Although it is now clear that Mr. Taylor was not armed, 338 Officer
Cruz’s decision to employ deadly force was objectively reasonable under the totality of the
circumstances. Therefore, Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force in the August 11, 2014 encounter
with Mr. Taylor did not violate a statutory or constitutional right as a matter of law. Officer Cruz
is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ excessive force claim.
Salt Lake City cannot be held liable on Plaintiffs’ municipal liability claim
relating to Officer Cruz’s conduct
“A municipality may not be held liable under § 1983 solely because its employees
inflicted injury on the plaintiff.” 339 Rather, “[t]o establish municipal liability, a plaintiff must
show (1) the existence of a municipal custom or policy and (2) a direct causal link between the
custom or policy and the violation alleged.” 340 “But [a municipality] cannot ‘be held liable where
there was no underlying constitutional violation by any of its officers.’” 341 Therefore, “a finding
of qualified immunity . . . based on a conclusion that the officer has committed no constitutional
violation . . . preclude[s] the imposition of municipal liability.” 342
336
Supra Discussion at 33-51.
337
Id. at 41-47.
338
Supra Undisputed Facts ¶ 113.
339
Hinton v. City of Elwood, 997 F.2d 774, 782 (10th Cir. 1993) (citing Monell v. New York City Dep’t of Social
Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978)).
340
Jenkins v. Wood, 81 F.3d 988, 993-94 (10th Cir. 1996) (citing city of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 385 (1989);
Hinton, 997 F.2d at 782).
341
Allen v. Lang, 738 Fed. App’x 934, 943 (10th Cir. 2018) (quoting Hinton, 997 F.2d at 782).
342
Jiron, 392 F.3d at 419 n. 8 (citing Hinton, 997 F.2d at 782-83).
54
Because Officer Cruz’s use of deadly force in the August 11, 2014 encounter with Mr.
Taylor did not violate a statutory or constitutional right, Salt Lake City cannot be held liable on
Plaintiffs’ municipal liability claim relating to Officer Cruz’s conduct as a matter of law. Salt
Lake City is entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ municipal liability claim relating to
Officer Cruz’s conduct.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Officer Cruz and Salt Lake City’s Motion for Summary
Judgment 343 is GRANTED. Plaintiffs’ first cause of action 344 against Officer Cruz and Plaintiffs’
fourth causes of action 345 against Salt Lake City relating to Officer Cruz’s conduct are
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
The Clerk is directed to close the case.
Signed May 17, 2019.
BY THE COURT
________________________________________
David Nuffer
United States District Judge
343
Docket no. 44, filed Nov. 28, 2016.
344
Complaint ¶¶ 105-113.
345
Id. ¶¶ 129-137.
55
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?