The family of Brent Thompson, a man who was struck and killed by an SUV on a Colorado highway after being tased by a sheriff’s deputy, has reached a $5 million settlement with Larimer County, according to lawyers and officials who announced the agreement on Friday.
Incident Overview
The incident occurred on February 18, 2023, when Larimer County Deputy Lorenzo Lujan attempted to arrest Thompson during a traffic stop on Interstate 25. Thompson, who was pulled over for expired license plates, fled the scene. Lujan deployed his Taser as Thompson moved towards the interstate, a decision that led to Thompson being struck by an oncoming SUV.
Although Deputy Lujan was not criminally charged, 8th District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin described the deputy’s use of the Taser as displaying “poor judgment.” The settlement was reached between Larimer County and Thompson’s family, who were represented by the law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC.
Legal and Public Reactions
The law firm stated that the settlement reflects the “immense wrong” done by the deputy, emphasizing the danger posed by using a Taser in such a hazardous situation. “Any reasonable person, let alone a trained law enforcement officer, should have known that tasing someone on I-25 in the dark of night posed an extreme risk of death or serious injury,” the firm said in a statement.
Larimer County commissioners also issued a statement explaining their decision to settle, attributing it largely to the advice of their insurers. Sheriff John Feyen expressed his condolences to Thompson’s family, acknowledging the complexity and risks involved in split-second decision-making by law enforcement officers.
“We will continue to use this incident as a case study for internal discussions about complex decision-making, dynamic situations, safety priorities, and the consequences of action or inaction,” Feyen said.
Details of the Incident
According to the district attorney’s letter summarizing the 2023 investigation, Thompson initially pulled over after Deputy Lujan activated his patrol car’s lights. However, during the arrest attempt, Thompson allegedly provided a false name and ran down an embankment towards the interstate.
Body camera footage later showed Thompson walking onto the highway shoulder when Lujan used the Taser. Another officer present reported seeing Thompson fall onto the road’s northbound lanes just before he was struck by the SUV. The vehicle’s driver, traveling with his wife and three children, attempted to avoid the figures on the road but ultimately collided with Thompson.
In his statement to investigators, Lujan explained that he aimed to prevent Thompson from posing a danger to himself or other drivers. However, the district attorney’s letter criticized Lujan’s failure to adequately check for approaching vehicles immediately before deploying the Taser, labeling it “a clear lapse in judgment.”
This settlement and the surrounding controversy highlight the ongoing debate over law enforcement practices and the use of force, particularly in situations where public safety and individual rights intersect.
