• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Lawsuit follows acquittal of ex-officer in Milwaukee shooting

Lawsuit follows acquittal of ex-officer in Milwaukee shooting

June 22, 2017 By Bob Hague

The family of Milwaukee police shooting victim Sylville Smith has filed a civil wrongful death suit against the city and fired officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown.

Attorney David Owens announced it Wednesday, just minutes after a jury cleared Heaggan-Brown of criminal reckless homicide in the shooting of Smith last August that spurred two nights of violence in Milwaukee.

AUDIO: attorney David Owens

The 25-year-old Heaggan-Brown still faces charges for the sexual assault of a man one day after the shooting. The civil suit says he should never have been hired as an officer due to that and other incidents like speeding and marijuana possession since he became a police aide in 2010 and a full fledged officer in 2015.

“The truth of the matter is, Officer Heaggan-Brown shouldn’t have been on the force at all, he shouldn’t have been on the street that night,” Owens said, adding that Heaggan-Brown had been the subject of numerous use of force complaints.

Owens represented the family of Tony Robinson, a 19-year-old Madison man fatally shot by a police officer in 2015. The city of Madison settled with his family earlier this year for a record $3.35 million.

In the Smith shooting, Heaggan-Brown claimed self defense while prosecutors say Smith became unarmed between two gunshots fired within two seconds of each other.

Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood was calm Wednesday night after the jury acquitted the former officer. The shooting last summer set off two nights of rioting, and neighbors said they’d had enough upheaval.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News



Featured Stories

Future of abortion in Wisconsin hinges on SCOTUS ‘Roe’ decision

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

Medical marijuana legislation gets public hearing at Capitol

Tommy Thompson announces he will not run for governor

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC