Nationwide — Clarence Belton, an African American police officer assigned to an FBI process drive, was shot greater than ten occasions throughout a 2019 drug raid after a fellow officer, who’s white, mistook him for a suspect. Belton survived the capturing, however the incident set off a protracted authorized struggle that’s now approaching a key choice.
Belton was the one Black officer on the FBI Secure Streets Activity Power in the course of the early morning raid in Gastonia, North Carolina. He labored for the Gastonia Police Division and joined native and federal officers to serve a search warrant linked to a meth trafficking investigation, in accordance with Atlanta Black Star.
As officers arrived, the suspect, Larry McConneyhead, briefly stepped outdoors earlier than operating again into the home. 4 Gastonia officers then moved into the open storage after forcing entry.
Contained in the storage, officers encountered a girl pointing a gun. Belton fired towards her whereas shouting warnings and commenced retreating. In the course of the chaos, one other process drive officer by chance shot Belton within the arm. Belton dropped his weapon, fell to the bottom, and tried to crawl out of the storage to security.
At that time, Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer Heather Loveridge opened fireplace, capturing Belton greater than ten occasions in a matter of seconds. Loveridge later mentioned she believed Belton was the suspect. The gunfire stopped solely after somebody yelled, “He’s a cop.”
Belton suffered critical accidents to each arms and underwent a number of surgical procedures. Court docket information say the accidents are everlasting and compelled him to go away regulation enforcement. He now works as an actual property agent.
The Charlotte District Legal professional declined to file prison fees, although Loveridge was fired from the police division in 2020. In 2022, Belton filed a civil lawsuit accusing Loveridge and the division of violating his constitutional rights, together with claims of negligence and assault.
Loveridge has argued the case must be dismissed underneath certified immunity. Whereas a decrease court docket initially rejected that argument, an appellate court docket ordered a extra detailed overview and directed the discharge of video footage from the incident. The video was made public in October and renewed consideration on the case.
Greater than six years after the capturing, the lawsuit stays unresolved because the court docket decides whether or not Loveridge is protected by certified immunity. A ruling may come at any time.
