$1.5 million Settlement Reached for Man Shot in Face During Botched Search Warrant

Background

Mr. Ward was shot in the face by a Cuyahoga County deputy sheriff during a botched SWAT operation. He heard a commotion outside, and when he opened the door, the deputy pointed a rifle at his face and pulled the trigger. The search warrant was for marijuana possession, and involved 5 team members who broke down the door without announcing their presence. 

Approach & Resolution

Terry Gilbert argued that the whole operation went really bad and the SWAT team officer who shot Montgomery used excessive force. They did not announce themselves appropriately. He jumped back and put his hand up and got shot in the face. Multiple surgeries, facial reconstruction. He emerged out of it. He said the report on the incident embellished the level of threat from Ward, who never went outside and posed no threat.

A $1.5 million settlement was awarded to Ward in this federal case.

 
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