Des Moines Reaches Settlement With Family Of Man Shot By Police

DES MOINES, IA — The family of an unarmed man shot through a police car window by an officer will receive $225,000 from the city, The Des Moines Register reports. Ryan Bolinger, 28, died in the incident in June 2015.

Bolinger was shot by officer Vanessa Miller. A grand jury examining the shooting found no basis for criminal charges against Miller, who the police department determined was justified in the June 2015 shooting. Miller later resigned from the department.

Bolinger's family sued the city for wrongful death and the case was set to go to trial in January.

Bolinger, of West Des Moines, was shot following a short chase on the west side of Des Moines after he approached an officer conducting an unrelated traffic stop. Bolinger stopped his vehicle near the patrol car of officer Ian Lawler and reportedly got out of his car and behaved erratically. Lawler told Bolinger to pull into a parking lot, but he reportedly drove away.

Lawler followed Bolinger and Miller joined the pursuit shortly after. Bolinger stopped his vehicle and got out, approaching Miller's car. Miller later said she believed he was going to kill her when she fired at him.

During depositions in preparation for the trial, it was learned Miller erroneously told investigators at the time of the shooting that she had repeatedly warned Bolinger to get back, the Register reported. In-car camera recordings from her vehicle showed that was not the case.

The Register reported that the Bolinger family's attorney said an eyewitness had given a sworn statement indicating Bolinger's hands were visible and raised as he approached Miller's car and he had no weapon. Miller claimed his hands were not raised.

The Des Moines City Council is expected to approve the settlement agreement during Monday's council meeting, according to the Register.

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