City officials released a statement on Thursday morning concerning a $10 million lawsuit filed against the City of Paris and a Paris Police Officer regarding a shooting that occurred on June 1, 2021, which left a man paralyzed.
“The City will vigorously defend the lawsuit filed by Mr. Carico regarding the shooting that occurred on June 1, 2021,” said City Attorney Stephanie Harris. “The Texas Rangers have investigated the shooting and found it to be justified, and Ofc. Bristow was cleared by a Lamar County Grand Jusy of wrongdoing after the case was presented to it by attorneys from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas.”
On June 1, 2021, Paris Police Officers investigated a motor vehicle rollover accident involving damage to the property of a third party. The driver has fled the scene, but officers traced the abandoned vehicle to Colton Carico.
According to reports, officers arrived at Carico’s home and repeatedly requested he come speak with them about the accident which he initially refused to do. When he did exit the home, Carico did so with a rifle.
“Officers ordered him to drop the rifle multiple times, but he would not comply with those commands. As a result of Mr. Carico brandishing a rifle, the officers feared for their safety as well as for the safety of Mr. Carico’s girlfriend, who as also present in the line of fire,” said the City of Paris in a press release on June 13, 2022.
As a result of the incident, Carico was left paralyzed.
Now, according to the lawsuit, Carico is requesting a jury trial and $10 million in judgement.
“The events that ensued happened in a matter of seconds and occurred only be Mr. Carico created a dangerous situation by introducing a high-powered rifle into an otherwise non-violent scene. Mr. Carico’s own actions created a very clear and present danger to the officers and bystander on the scene that the officers were forced to address in order to prevent Mr. Carico from firing the rifle in his hands,” said the City of Paris.
“Both the facts and applicable law appear to support the actions of the City’s officers.”
