A district court judge has ruled in favor of the family of Daniel Demott, a 66-year-old man killed in a 2018 standoff with Anchorage Police. The incident occurred on November 5, 2018, when police arrived at Demott’s residence after receiving a report of a family dispute.
According to the family’s lawyer, Jeff Barber, the dispute was between Demott and his daughter Kelsey Howell. Howell had called the police because her father was experiencing a mental health crisis. However, the situation escalated once officers arrived on the scene.
Barber stated that Demott had been experiencing mental health issues and had been in and out of the Psychiatric Institutions. The family had hoped that by calling the police, Demott would be taken to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute for help.
Instead, the APD SWAT team deployed tear gas before entering the home, where Demott was found dead inside a crawlspace. The court records indicate that responders did not try to negotiate with Demott or address his mental health issues.
Demott’s children, Kelsey Howell and Justin Charlie, were awarded $150,000 in damages to be paid by Anchorage police officers Luis Soto and Steven Childers and the Municipality of Anchorage. Barber expressed gratitude for the verdict, hoping that the police would review their policies and procedures.
Furthermore, the police department’s actions have been widely criticized. The incident highlights the need for police reform and better crisis management training. In addition, the court’s decision sets a precedent for police accountability. The Police Accountability Ruling, in this case, sends a strong message that police officers must be held responsible for their actions.
The Daniel Demott case highlights the importance of police accountability and crisis management training in preventing tragic incidents.
This news story was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
