The parents of a man killed during a police chase in West Valley City have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the officers and the city.
Marcel Garcia and Della Colonna say officers Michael S. Buchanan and Paul K. Jacobsen were negligent in pursuing Adrian Garcia, 19, who died after rolling his car on July 17, 1991.On that date, Adrian Garcia allegedly stole some compact discs from ShopKo, 4850 W. 3500 South, and was chased in the parking lot by Jacobsen and store employees.
Adrian Garcia got into his car. Jacobsen jumped on top, tried to open the door and pointed his handgun at Adrian Garcia, according to the lawsuit, filed in 3rd District Court.
"Jacobsen's conduct caused Adrian Garcia to panic and took off in his car," the suit says.
Buchanan then chased Adrian Garcia in his patrol car. Adrian Garcia lost control of his car, rolling it near the intersection of 3500 South and 4000 West.
The crash caused severe injuries, leaving him in a coma until he died on Oct. 9, 1991.
The lawsuit says that the police officers were negligent in pointing a gun at Adrian Garcia, which caused him to panic, and in engaging him in a car chase "when there was no necessity of immediate apprehension and when the risks of the pursuit were not warranted by the nature of the offense."
Because the alleged crime by Adrian Garcia was shoplifting, the officers should have simply taken down the license plate number and contacted him later, according to the lawsuit. "Buchanan's and Jacobsen's conduct demonstrated a reckless disregard for the safety of others" and caused the victim's death, the suit says.
Marcel Garcia and Della Colonna are seeking special damages to cover the medical and funeral expenses, which have amounted to more than $200,000.