A federal jury ordered two Indianapolis police officers to pay a total of $1.2 million to the estate of a man fatally shot by police in November 2018.
In a decision released May 2, the jury ordered Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers Jonathan Horlock and Ian Peterson to pay $600,000 each to the estate of Daniel Cedars, who was killed when the officers fired into his home. The officers had responded to an incomplete 911 call.
The jury found neither Horlock nor Peterson “reasonably feared for his life” or thought the other “faced imminent risk of serious bodily injury” when they fired at Cedars. The jury also found both officers used unreasonable force.
The decision was filed in the Southern District of Indiana.
What happened?
According to court documents, officers Horlock and Peterson were dispatched to Cedars’ residence at 12:53 a.m. Nov. 19, 2018, for an “alleged incomplete 911 call” located at or near the residence. The officers were at Cedars’ home by 1:23 a.m. unannounced with lights off.
At 1:36 a.m., Peterson and Horlock reported a police shooting, according to an IMPD incident report. The report says Cedars fired at officers first, and the officers returned fire.
But the defendants allege the officers “negligently and/or intentionally fired shots from a distance away from the home in which they were safe to retreat with absolutely no regard for where the shots were going, or who was in the residence.”
Through an attorney’s response to the allegations, Horlock, Peterson and the city of Indianapolis, which was also listed as a defendant, denied that the officers were negligent.
Neither of the officers were criminally charged. Both are still employed by IMPD.
Horlock is on administrative duty because he was accused of using excessive force in an arrest in August 2020 downtown during protests. He faces felony and misdemeanor charges from the incident.
IMPD: Officers’ actions were ‘lawful’ and ‘compliant’
In a statement, IMPD said it was aware of the jury’s verdict and is reviewing possible legal next steps.
“While the incident was unfortunate, IMPD contends the officers’ actions were lawful, compliant with department policies, and were not negligent,” the department said. “While IMPD respects the jury process, it is disappointed with this verdict.”
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853 or email at tylerf@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
