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In September, New Carlisle News photographer Andrew Grimm was shot by Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Shaw when the officer mistook Grimm’s camera for a firearm. The incident, which was captured by Shaw’s body camera, happened while Grimm was setting up his equipment to photograph Shaw, who was in the middle of a traffic stop.
The body camera footage shows Grimm, who was shot in the chest and grazed in the shoulder, telling Shaw that he had both flashed his car lights and waved in order to alert the deputy to his presence. Shaw, who knew Grimm, was recorded by his camera saying, “Andy, I’m sorry, brother. Listen, dude, you pulled that out like a gun out of the back of the Jeep. I thought it was a freaking gun, Andy.”
Shaw reportedly failed to provide Grimm with any warnings before opening fire, which is said to have happened within seconds of Shaw exiting his cruiser. As reported at the time, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation opened an investigation into the matter.
Though Grimm had said shortly after the shooting that he hadn’t wanted Shaw to lose his job, the photographer and his wife, plus KBA News, have since filed a lawsuit against the Clark County Board of County Commissioners, the City of New Carlisle, Ohio, and Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Shaw. The lawsuit accuses Deputy Shaw of violating Grimm’s civil rights and using excessive force, seeking at least $ 75,000 in damages for a variety of claims.
Since the shooting, the lawsuit claims Grimm experiences both psychological and physical issues, including nervousness when around law enforcement officers, disturbed sleep, anxiety, and headaches. It also accuses the local Sheriff’s Office of having “ratified” Shaw’s actions by allowing him to return to work—despite the ongoing Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe, Deputy Shaw has been given role in the Clark County Jail—and that the Sheriff’s Office failed to properly train and supervise Shaw.
The suit was filed in the Ohio Southern District Court in Cincinnati with Judge Timothy S. Black presiding.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
