In 2012, the 22-year-old Derrick Ambrose Jr. was shot following a disturbance outside the New World Lounge on Riehl. His family are hopeful that the record settlement in his case could draw attention to officers' use of power around the country.
Attorneys of Derrick Ambrose reported that the city's insurance carrier has agreed to pay $2.5 million settlement to his family due to 'a wrongful death' lawsuit in the case. The reported settlement is said to be the largest of its kind in Iowa.
Derrick's father, Derrick Ambrose Sr., said that the settlement will not bring back their son, but it may raise awareness of what is wrong with the law enforcement not only in Iowa but around the whole nation. Derrick's father is a sergeant major with the US Army who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.The family of Derrick said that people should take a hard look at how they can better support the good police officers and how cities can better investigate and discipline excessive force by police officers.
David Zellhoefer who is a city attorney said that the Iowa didn't admit any wrongdoing in Derrick Ambrose's case. Mr. Zellhoefer also said that the costs are incredibly high and the insurance carrier thought it was in the city's best interest to do this.
The shooting of Derrick Ambrose was said to be part of a pattern of violations and indifference to complaints. Waterloo attorney who represent Derrick's estate and along with the Spence Law Firm of Jackson released a statement saying, 'this tragedy reflects the larger problem that the city of Waterloo too often refuses to adequately investigate or discipline officers alleged using force against civilians excessively and unconstitutionally.'
On November 18, 2012, Officer Kyle Law approached Derrick Ambrose Jr. outside New World Lounge. The officer saw Ambrose showing off his gun to a group of people in public. Ambrose Jr. then ran after Officer Kyle approached him.
It was reported that Derrick had a permit to carry the handgun and was shot in the back of the head after he dropped his gun per the officer's commands. According to the estate attorneys, Officer Kyle Law thought that Ambrose Jr. was still armed. Officer Kyle Law thought his life was in great danger and so he fired a shot. Meanwhile, David Zellhoefer said the city disagrees with such version of events.
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