$2.2 Million for Man Shot, Paralyzed by L.A. County Sheriff's Deputies

14 Comments

LOS ANGELES – A $2.2-million settlement was approved Tuesday for a man shot and paralyzed by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies last year in Compton.

Deputies were on a routine patrol after midnight May 24 when they noticed Daniel Martinez and another man acting suspiciously, according to county records.

Believing Martinez was a lookout in a potential robbery, the deputies got out of their car and approached him. When they ordered him to show his hands, he ran, according to records.

While chasing him, the deputies thought they saw Martinez reach into his back pocket. One thought he was reaching for a gun and fired, according to records.

No gun was found on the scene, just a brown wallet, officials said.

“When you have a settlement like this, nobody is going to leave the table happy,” said Martinez’s attorney, Brian Dunn. “But the county has taken a step in the right direction at the minimum ensuring this kid is going to have the medical treatment he needs.”

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said the incident highlights the challenges of split-second decisions for deputies.

“This just reminds us that when law enforcement tells you to do something, to do it immediately,” Whitmore said. “This situation is a tragic situation.”

At least one deputy was disciplined after the shooting, he said.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which oversees the sheriff’s department, approved the settlement.

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Gombino

almost 3 years ago

2660 Comments

Bump copper380
Jonas

almost 3 years ago

38534 Comments

What part of STOP did he not understand?
copper380

almost 3 years ago

2026 Comments

once again we pay for the idiot. I hate o see the direction we are going. the scum sees that if they sue we settle. why should we continue to pay for the scum that breaks laws and does not respect authority. This jack wad caused his injury by failing to comply. Had he listened he would not have received his injury. Problem is that who knows what the jury would be made up of so settleing is the wave of the future. Forget what the moron did, lets find what the officer did that was not 100% within policy.
Whalewatcher

almost 3 years ago

9930 Comments

First rule of police contact: do as you are told. If he had, he'd be out WALKING around. Choices and consequences again.
HEYSARGE

almost 3 years ago

16802 Comments

Take responsibility for your actions, nothing here but a deep pocket law suit. Officer's state of mind at the time of the shooting should of prevailed..............................
mkiprotection

almost 3 years ago

2386 Comments

Easy to prevent............ dont run!
darsavmo

almost 3 years ago

10842 Comments

Stop-Police, means STOP, not run and act like you have a gun...
clobster

almost 3 years ago

1552 Comments

Sounds like a crappy situation all around.
pdyer

almost 3 years ago

338 Comments

There is little information in the article. My concern is one of the deputies was diciplines after the shoot. Even if it was a "good shoot" if the idiots attorneys found a violation of policy, even if it did not prompt the shooting, it might be the reason for the settlement. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and put these things behind you.
DDemlong

almost 3 years ago

2240 Comments

The deputies did what they needed to do to protect themselves and their community in a stressful criminal situation. The scumbag shouldn't have gotten anything.
Perl

almost 3 years ago

1498 Comments

Had he NOT been a lookout for a robbery, had he NOT run, and had he NOT made a furtive grasp at his waistband, he would not been shot. I will not Monday-morning quarterback the LASD guys, but the totality of the circumstances were NOT on the suspects side.
~Wf
crlittle554

almost 3 years ago

506 Comments

Wow, that seems ridiculous...He fled upon approach of an officer (for whatever reason) they apparently gave commands he didn't obey, then they said they thought he was reaching to his waist for a gun? I mean, even if a gun isn't found it sounds like a good shoot..
Robocop33

almost 3 years ago

14378 Comments

If he hadn't run then they would not have shot him, would they. Maybe they should help him with his injuries but to make this POS a multi-millionaire, no. I was doing everything right and proper while chasing an offender and was seriously hurt and crippled ending up disabled and in pain for life and all I got was $33,000 after fighting for two years! I'm just saying.