Jury slams Denver police with $19.75M verdict
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A jury awarded $19.75 million in damages to six people who were injured when a now-former Denver police officer opened fire in LoDo in 2022.
Why it matters: This is the second major verdict against the Denver Police Department in recent years, both of which involved unnecessary use of force.
Driving the news: The jury's decision came Friday after one day of deliberations about whether former police officer Brandon Ramos was liable for injuries suffered by six bystanders when he fired at an armed man in a crowd outside Larimer Beer Hall.
- The plaintiffs were Yekalo Weldehiwet, Bailey Alexander, Willis Small IV, Mark Bess, Angelica Rey and Ayla Bersage.
What they're saying: "The verdict sends an unmistakable message that officers must consider the safety of our communities when they decide to use deadly force," Denver attorney Rathod Mohamedbhai said in a statement.
- "Officers cannot treat the people of Colorado as collateral damage."
The intrigue: In the civil lawsuit, the injured bystanders asked for $26 million in financial and punitive damages.
Catch up quick: The incident occurred in the early morning hours of July 17, 2022, when officers saw a fight between two men. One of them, Jordan Waddy, then 21, pulled a gun.
- Three police officers fired at Waddy, two from the front with no bystanders in harm's way. Ramos fired from the side twice.
- A grand jury indicted Ramos in 2023 on 14 counts, including third-degree assault and reckless endangerment. He pleaded guilty in 2024 to a charge of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, which made him ineligible to serve as a police officer. He resigned months later.
- Waddy received a 2.5-year prison sentence in 2024 for possession of a weapon by a previous offender. He never fired his gun.
The other side: Denver police officials declined to comment to media outlets after the verdict but at the time defended the officers, saying, "In the moment, they were doing what they could to stop violence and ensure safety downtown."