Lakewood to pay $8 million to family of man killed by police officer during traffic stop
The family of a 26-year-old Black man shot to death by a Lakewood police officer during a traffic stop has settled a lawsuit after the city agreed to pay his family $8 million Thursday.
Said Joquin died May 1, 2020, after officer Michael Wiley pulled him over for running a stop sign. His death sparked community protests .
The settlement now brings the total payment for deaths involving Wiley to $21 million. A previous case involving the death of Fife resident Leonard Thomas was settled for $13 million.
"The result brings some justice to the family," said attorney Jack Connelly , who handled both cases.
In a statement released Thursday, the City of Lakewood sent its condolences to Joquin's family and loved ones.
"Every life cut short is a tragedy and we can only imagine the suffering and pain they are experiencing," the city's statement read. "The decision to reach this settlement was made with the intention of achieving the best outcome for all parties involved."
Traffic stop
After Joquin allegedly ran a stop sign, Wiley pulled him over. The officer spotted a gun in the vehicle, on the driver's side floorboard and ordered Joquin and his passenger to keep their hands above their heads. Shortly after Wiley warned Joquin to keep his hands up or he'd be shot, gunshots rang out, according to an investigation.
Wiley shot Joquin three times, according to the autopsy report.
In a written statement given to investigators, Wiley said he shot Joquin because he believed Joquin was reaching for the weapon at his feet.
Investigators later said a handgun was found in the vehicle.
Joquin's family didn't believe Wiley's story.
"I feel like it was overkill," Dawn Kortner, Joquin's mother, said in 2021. "He took steps that shouldn't have been taken. I feel like he was being overly aggressive, and I want him to be held accountable for what he did. He shouldn't get a pension and sit at home and enjoy his kids when we can't enjoy Said anymore."
Previous settlement
On May 23, 2013, the unarmed Thomas was killed by a police sniper outside his home while he was holding his 4-year-old son. Wiley led the Metro Pierce County SWAT Team that blew open Thomas' back door. Wiley also was found to have fired at least one of the four shots that killed the family's dog, Baxter.
The city paid Thomas' family $13.1 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit after a federal jury found police committed 14 civil rights violations that night, including excessive force. That amount was initially $15.3 million but the city appealed, then later agreed to the lesser payout.
Wiley's actions, along with two others, were singled out for being egregious and leading to Thomas' unnecessary death.
No charges for Wiley
In 2022, Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett declined to file charges against Wiley for Joquin's death. In a letter sent to Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro, she detailed why she believed Wiley was justified in killing Joquin.
The letter discusses Joquin's "unpredictable and dangerous behavior" by running a stop sign on a busy road in front of police, bullet trajectory evidence showing the 26-year-old no longer had his hands on his head when shot by Wiley and a handgun found on the floorboard near Joquin's feet.
An internal investigation had already found Wiley's actions in the Joquin shooting to be within policy.
Wiley is still employed as a Lakewood Police officer, according to city spokesperson Brynn Grimley.
