Nov 26, 2007 10:05 pm US/Central
Officer Shot Reaches $4.5M Settlement With City
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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In February 2003, Minneapolis officer Charles Storlie shot Duy Ngo several times when he responded to a call for help from Ngo.
CBS
In the largest settlement ever involving a Minneapolis police officer, the city council agreed Monday afternoon to pay $4.5 million to Duy Ngo. He was shot by a fellow officer while working undercover in February 2003.
"While this is a staggering sum of money, it is staggering how brave they are to protect us. I support this action," said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. "It will put an end to a sad, tragic story that was thankfully not more tragic."
Ngo had been alone doing undercover gang surveillance on 3rd Avenue South and Clinton Avenue South just before 3 a.m. when a suspect shot him through the driver's side window. His bulletproof vest saved him.
Ngo radioed for help and made it to the street where he waved his arms for the responding officers.
Officers Charles Storlie and Jamie Conway responded and jumped out of the car when they spotted Ngo. Storlie mistook him for the suspect and fired at him with a semiautomatic machine gun. Ngo suffered at least six bullet wounds to the left arm, thigh, groin and buttocks.
Ngo said Monday that his body still hurts where he was shot, but now the emotional healing will begin.
"I'm just looking forward to picking up the pieces and moving on. I'm relieved we can finally put this behind us and I hope the city can do the same thing," he said.
The Minneapolis City Council approved the settlement 11 to 1. Lisa Goodman cast the only no vote.
In his statements encouraging the council to vote for the settlement, Council member Paul Ostrow said, "We all need, at this point, to express our compassion and care for Duy Ngo."
Ngo works at the police department part-time at a desk job in the licensing division. He said the injuries to his arm prevent him from going back into the field. Since the shooting, he's undergone 26 surgeries and months of rehabilitation.
The investigation into Ngo's case was controversial and ultimately included the suspensions of three high-ranking officers. They were later cleared.
A year later, then Minneapolis Police Chief William McManus issued a public apology to Ngo after rumors surfaced he shot himself to avoid military duty.
Ngo sued Storlie and the city, alleging that Storlie used excessive force, denying him of his constitutional rights. U.S. District Judge Richard H. Kyle ruled last year that the city was entitled to immunity in the case, but Storlie was not.
John Delmonico, President of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, said it is time to move on, but this settlement will resurrect old wounds within the Department. He said people are still divided on what happened that night and how it was handled.
Ngo said he will continue to work for the police department.
"This was never about the money. It was about the justice," he said. "I think I've proved a lot of points now."
Storlie resigned from the force earlier this year.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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