A New Jersey man who was paralyzed during a 2014 police encounter has won the largest police brutality settlement in the state’s history.
CNN reports Camden County has agreed to pay $10 million to Xavier Ingram, a 29-year-old Camden man who was left paralyzed from the neck down during a 2014 police encounter. Ingram previously filed a federal excessive force lawsuit against the county, its police department and individual officers.
Back in June 2014, Ingram fled from police outside a liquor store because he had an outstanding warrant for a driving violation. While being chased by law enforcement, Ingram fell to the ground, at which point officers handcuffed him before stomping on his neck. Police claim Ingram was in possession of drugs and a stolen gun, and that his injuries were caused by his fall.
Ingram’s attorney, Beth G. Baldinger, said the injury “could not have been caused by a slip and fall as (Camden County) contended.”
“Mr. Ingram was not resisting, did not threaten the officers and there was no justification for any use of force,” Baldinger maintained.
Despite reaching a settlement with Ingram, Camden County has denied any wrongdoing.
“Based on the settlement, the county maintains, and continues to maintain, that no wrongdoing took place and is not liable for any of the actions and circumstances of the aforementioned incident,” Camden County spokesperson Dan Keashen wrote in a statement to Fox 5.
