Summary Judgment Granted to Law Enforcement Defendants on Plaintiff’s Section 1983 Claim

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi awarded summary judgment to a police officer and his department after the officer joined several other law enforcement officers in an attempt to stop a vehicle during a dangerous high-speed getaway attempt. After the driver of the vehicle attempted to run over the officers, multiple shots were fired at the car, with one bullet striking a passenger in the vehicle. The Court found the defendant officer’s conduct reasonable under the circumstances and determined that the officer was entitled to dismissal. Similarly, the Court rejected the passenger’s claims against the police department, finding that the officer’s actions did not amount to reckless disregard under the circumstances.