Stevens-Rucker v. City of Columbus

242 F. Supp. 3d 608, 2017 WL 1021346, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37913
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 16, 2017
DocketCase No.: 2:14-CV-2319
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 242 F. Supp. 3d 608 (Stevens-Rucker v. City of Columbus) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stevens-Rucker v. City of Columbus, 242 F. Supp. 3d 608, 2017 WL 1021346, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37913 (S.D. Ohio 2017).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

GEORGE C. SMITH, JUDGE

This matter is before the Court upon the Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendants the City of Columbus (“Columbus”), Sergeant John Frenz, and Officer Dustin McKee of the Columbus- Police Department (“Defendants”) (Doc. 57). Plaintiff opposed Defendants’ Motion (Doc. 86) and Defendants replied in support (Doc. 95). Additionally pending is Plaintiffs Motion for Leave to File a Surreply (Doc. 96) and Defendants’ response to the Motion for Leave (Doc. 97). The Motions are now ripe [612]*612for review. For the following reasons, Plaintiffs Motion for Leave is GRANTED and Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.

I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of the death of Plaintiffs decedent Jason White (“White”) on November 17, 2013 in Hilliard, Ohio. White died after sustaining gunshot wounds from defendant Sergeant Frenz (“Frenz”), from defendant Officer McKee (“McKee”), and, potentially from former defendant Officer Jason Alderman (“Aider-man”).

On November 17, 2013, White entered the home of Ashley Cruz at around 5:00 a.m. while Cruz was sleeping on the couch with the door unlocked. (Doc. 58, Cruz Aff. at ¶¶ 2-5). Cruz woke up when White entered and observed an African American man wearing no shirt, jeans, and a camouflage Ashing hat. (Id.). Cruz did not recognize White. (Id.). White was holding a large kitchen knife and was sliding his hand on the blade. (Id. at ¶ 6). Cruz turned on the lights and told White to leave her apartment. (Id. at ¶¶7-8). White did not leave, but just kept looking around Cruz’s apartment. (Id. at ¶¶ 8-9). When Cruz’s baby began crying, Cruz told White to stay where he was while she retrieved her baby. (Id. at ¶¶ 9-10). When Cruz returned to the room, she asked if White wanted water, food, or a coat but White appeared confused and asked Cruz what she was doing in his home. (Id at ¶¶ 13-15). White then began exiting and reentering the apartment stating that something happened' to him and that something was not right. (Id. at ¶¶ 17-20). When White eventually left the apartment and walked to a nearby landing, Cruz shut the door, locked the door, and woke up her boyfriend. (Id. at ¶¶ 21-23). Once the door was closed, White tried the handle again. (Id). Cruz then called 911, relaying the earlier events. (Doc. 88, Manually filed CD of Cruz 911 Call (“Cruz 911 Call”)). Cruz informed the operator that White may have been on drugs because White was not making any sense. (Id). While Cruz was on the phone with 911, White continued coming back to Cruz’s door, trying to turn the knob and pounded on other doors in the area. (Doc. 88, Cruz 911 Call; Doc. 58, Cruz Aff. at ¶¶ 26-27).

A. Officer Alderman

Alderman was the first on the scene and recalls hearing a 33A call,1 dispatching Wagon 1582 to Cruz’s apartment. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 40; Doc. 70, Alderman Aff. at ¶¶ 22, 29). Alderman heard that a caller had informed 911 that there was a man with a knife banging on her door. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 42-43; Doc. 56, Manually filed CD of Police Audio # 001 (“Columbus Audio”)). Alderman does not recall hearing that White’s speech was incoherent but the dispatcher did inform Wagon 158 that White was “out of it. He was talking but it made no sense.” (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 43; Doc. 56, Columbus Audio # 001). While Wagon 158 was in transit to Cruz’s apartment, Aider-man received an update that White was attempting to enter Cruz’s home, meaning there was possibly a burglary attempt which requires two officers at a minimum. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 44; Doc. 56, Columbus Audio # 005, # 008). Frenz recalls hearing that there was a man-with-a-knife call and that the man had entered an apartment with a knife in his hand. (Doc. [613]*61383-2, Frenz Dep. at 50). As the supervising officer of the precinct, Frenz did not plan on responding to the call, but told his officers to enter with lights and sirens. (Id. at 51). Alderman responded to the call for additional help and drove to Cruz’s apartment complex because he was only two minutes away. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 63-64; Doc. 56, Columbus Audio # 008). Alderman saw White as he pulled in to the area. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 65). At the time, White was not carrying a weapon. (Id.). Alderman approached White with his gun drawn in a breezeway as the two men faced each other. ■ (Id. at 65, 70-71). Alderman informed dispatch that he had a suspect at gunpoint. (Doc. 56, Columbus Audio # 010).

Alderman was 45-60 feet away from White at first and told White to show his hands. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 72-73). White complied with this order and Alderman approached. (Id.). Alderman asked White to turn around and White complied. (Id. at 76-77). However, when White turned around, he dropped his hands to his side. (Id.). Alderman saw at least two knives in White’s back pockets. (Id.). Alderman yelled at White to put his hands back up but White did not comply. (Id.). Instead, White turned around — still unarmed — and faced Alderman and continued to ignore Alderman’s commands. (Id. at 78-79). Alderman then withdrew his Taser while keeping his gun drawn in his other hand. (Id.). After White did not comply with another command to get on the ground, Alderman fired his Taser at White from about 10 to 15 feet away then put his Taser away. (Id. at .80-81). White tensed up and fell backwards but got up swiftly with a-large kitchen knife-in his hand. (Id. at 81-83). White then started moving toward Alderman with the knife drawn and the blade pointed up. (Id.). Alderman notified dispatch that White was running towards him. (Doc. 56, Columbus Audio # 012). Alderman then fired four shots at White from eight to ten feet away. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 83-84).3 After Alderman fired his four shots, White turned and ran the opposite direction. (Id. at 86). Alderman did not chase White as he was unfamiliar with the area, relatively new to the force, and-was shaken from discharging his weapon. (Doe.' 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 87). Another officer, Officer John Groom, arrived on the scene and notified the dispatcher that Alderman fired shots. (Doc. 56, Columbus Audio #016). Groom secured Alderman who was shaken by the incident rather than chase White or speak to Cruz. (Doc. 84-4, Groom Dep. at 29). Groom stayed with Alderman while Sergeant Siford went to speak to Cruz regarding her report.4 (Id. at 33). Alderman had no further contact with White and did not participate in the later search for White. (Doc. 83-1, Alderman Dep. at 91).

B. Officer Frenz

The next officer to come into contact with White was Frenz. After hearing that Alderman had a suspect at gunpoint, [614]*614Frenz had ordered a “10-3” run, meaning a run for an officer in trouble. (Doc. 83-2, Frenz Dep. at 51). A “10-3 run” means that every officer able to respond in the area would go to the location to help. (Id. at 52). Frenz left the station and met up with McKee and Officer Jeffrey Kracht at Saddlebrook apartments,. a separate, but nearby apartment complex, where Frenz planned to set up a perimeter. (Id. at 87-88). After parking his vehicle and instructing Kracht and McKee to set up the.

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Bluebook (online)
242 F. Supp. 3d 608, 2017 WL 1021346, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37913, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stevens-rucker-v-city-of-columbus-ohsd-2017.