Police brutality-Desmond Ray

(Updated 12 Aug 2008)

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Botched Paramilitary Police Raids: An Epidemic of "Isolated Incidents"
Cato Institute

Desmond Ray.

December 11, 2002—MD

As police in Prince George's County, Maryland prepare for a SWAT raid on a suspected drug dealer, Desmond Ray--not the target of the raid--steps out of a parked car. Cpl. Charles Ramseur says Ray reached for his waistband upon exiting the car. Ray says he put his hands in the air.
Ramseur fires his weapon at Ray and strikes him in the spine, paralyzing him. Ray is unarmed, and would never be charged with a crime.
In April 2004, an "Executive Review Panel" found that Ramseur had no justification for shooting Ray, and recommended administrative charges against him for using excessive force. The recommendation was overruled when the internal police review board found no wrongdoing. Ramseur was reinstated.
County police later settled a civil suit with Ray for an undisclosed sum of money.
Source:
"Prince George's police corporal cleared in 2002 shooting," Associated Press, July 15, 2005.