In Reference To Dothan Officer Being Forced To Use Deadly Physical Force

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 9460

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Aug 17 2015 5:16 PM

DOTHAN:   In performance of his duties, a Dothan Police Officer was forced to use deadly physical force several years ago. As a result the family of the person who forced the officer to exercise deadly physical force filed a federal lawsuit.

The Dothan Police Officer went to make a traffic stop on Christopher Thomas. When the blue lights were activated Thomas made a conscious decision to run. A police chase took place.

The chase ended on Montgomery highway in a business parking lot. When the officer approached the suspect vehicle the vehicle started in a forward motion towards the officer. That action required the use of deadly physical force by the officer. After the shots were fired the driver and the vehicle crossed Montgomery Highway and went into a building. The driver was dead on the scene.

Later a civil lawsuit was filed in United States Federal Court in Montgomery Alabama. The suit was filed against the City of Dothan and the officer personally.

On August 12, 2015, Harold Albritton, Senior United States District Court Judge dismissed the action against the officer and the City of Dothan.

Judge Albritton declined to exercise jurisdiction over the state claims made by the Thomas family against the officer and the City of Dothan.

Judge Albritton wrote a 17 page Memorandum Opinion and Order. Judge Albritton wrote that the officer was "forced to make split second judgement in ciircumstances that are tense, uncertian, and rapidly evolving".

The Thomas family has appealed the ruling of Judge Albritton.

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