An armed officer unintentionally shot a thug in the leg after the thug attacked his ex-home girlfriend’s brandishing a phony submachine gun. The police will be required to compensate the thug with a large sum of money.
32-year-old Aaron Humphries created alarm when he was found sitting in a car with the 2-foot-long imitation firearm.
In spite of the fact that it turned out to be a BB gun, armed officers rushed to the scene after receiving a 999 call from a terrified bystander.
Worcester police cordoned off Ronkswood Hill and forced Humphries to exit a white BMW he was seated in.
A witness captured on camera the moment a female officer’s gun accidentally discharged. The bullet passed through the car door and struck Humphries’ right leg through ricochet.
Before being prosecuted, Humphries was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with life-threatening injuries.
Following the October 2 incident, he admitted to possessing a replica pistol and committing criminal damage.
32-year-old Aaron Humphries caused alarm when he was observed sitting in a car with a fake pistol.
Iain Gould, Humphries’ attorney, claims that he is expected to obtain a sizeable settlement for his “horrific damage.”
The court heard that Humphries became “paranoid” after using narcotics and was captured growing 33 cannabis plants in a Worcester tanning salon.
The Worcester Crown Court condemned the father of three to 20 months in prison suspended for two years in January of this year.
Humphries is now anticipated to win compensation after filing a lawsuit against West Mercia Police.
He claims he is unable to walk and was forced to quit his £45,000-per-year Civil Engineering career.
Currently, the matter is being heard in the High Court, where the force has admitted to being liable for battery.
According to his attorney Iain Gould, he is likely to obtain a sizeable settlement for his “horrific damage.”
32-year-old Humphries was observed sitting in his car while clutching a 2-foot-long replica submachine gun (stock)
Mr. Gould stated, “Aaron, who had fallen asleep in his vehicle, awoke to the sound of shouting and realized that his vehicle was encircled by police officers who had their weapons trained on him.
Aaron, in a state of shock and following the guns squad’s orders, fired his weapon.
He got out of his car and stood near the open driver’s door.
The fact that he had nothing in his hands was immediately obvious to the officers.
One cop approached Aaron with handcuffs, while another approached with a taser, “red-tagging” Aaron with the less dangerous weapon.
Aaron stayed in complete compliance. Then, without warning, one of the officers (named as Officer B) shot him with her deadly carbine.
Officer B’s carbine bullet penetrated the open door of Aaron’s vehicle, struck Aaron’s left knee, and then tore through his right leg, causing entry and exit wounds.
Aaron slumped to the floor, bled profusely, and was in severe pain before being brought by ambulance to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Following the incident, the IOPC interviewed Officer B. (Independent Office of Police Conduct).
‘According to her narrative, she accidently discharged her carbine while holding a large, heavy shield in her left hand and applying the safety catch with her right.
Indeed, body-worn footage captures the cop yelling “Sorry, sorry!” immediately after discharging her firearm.
A panel on officer misconduct determined that Officer B had not violated the Standards of Professional Conduct, but revoked her guns license.
Mr. Gould continued, ‘It was shear fortunate that Aaron, one of the officer’s colleagues, or an innocent bystander were not killed by the stray bullet.
‘However, I am glad to confirm that there will be institutional accountability for Aaron’s treatment, as I have brought the full weight of the civil law against West Mercia Police in the shape of High Court proceedings, where they have now admitted full liability for assault and battery.
Aaron will eventually win a substantial compensation claim, but he would give it all up if he could alter the trajectory of the bullet to make it harmless.
A representative for West Mercia Police stated, ‘We can confirm that we have received a civil claim and that we are actively engaged in legal processes about the allegation.
The West Mercia Police have admitted liability for battery in their current civil legal actions.