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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Cottonwood Heights' insurance provider has reached a $4 million settlement with the family of Zane James, who was killed by police in 2018.
"While the city knows no amount of money will be sufficient to assuage the loss of their son, the city hopes that this settlement brings closure for all parties," city officials said in a statement on Friday, while adding that the settlement does not point "to any wrongdoing on the part of the city or its former police officer."
City leaders noted that the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office found former officer Casey Davies was legally justified in shooting James.
On May 29, 2018, police say James, 19, robbed two stores at gunpoint. About 10 minutes later, as Davies was driving to work, he heard on his police radio that other officers were chasing a motorcycle with the suspected robber. Davies spotted the motorcycle and engaged in the pursuit.
As James sped through a residential area near 6675 S. 2200 East, he hit a speed bump and crashed just two blocks from his house. According to a report on the officer-involved shooting from Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, Davies used his patrol car to knock James down as he was trying to speed away on his motorcycle.
James began running away from the officer, and while doing so, kept putting his hands near his waistband. In the front yard of a home at 2209 E. 6675 South, James was shot twice in the back by Davies.
In May, after reviewing new evidence, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office announced it determined the officer was not legally justified in using deadly force with his patrol car against James. Yet despite the new finding, Gill declined to file any criminal charges against the officer.
Related:
DA now says officer wasn't justified in hitting man with car before killing him in 2019
A DA now says a Cottonwood Heights police officer was not legally justified in hitting a man's motorcycle before that officer shot and killed him in 2019. But no charges will be filed.James' parents, Aaron and Tiffany James, filed the lawsuit in federal court against Davies and the city in 2019. The parents said discrepancies in reports about the shooting pointed to a cover-up by city leaders and police.
But city leaders said they disagreed with the settlement despite the insurance company's decision.
"The city did not support the decision to settle these lawsuits, as we believed the cases in both federal and state courts were on a trajectory to be dismissed," Cottonwood Heights Mayor Mike Weichers said in a statement.
"Nevertheless, we respect the trust's decision to bring closure to this matter and to eliminate risks associated with a potential jury trial influenced by current anti-law enforcement attitudes in society today. We fully support our police and the very difficult job they have in keeping our community safe," Weichers said, adding that leaders "extend our sincere condolences to the James family on the loss of their son."
Correction: An earlier version incorrectly stated Zane James was killed in 2019 instead of 2018.
