Grand Traverse County settled with the family of Craig Carlson – who was killed more than 10 years ago.
In 2007, Carlson called police; he was armed and thought to be suicidal. After an 11-hour standoff with police, Carlson was killed by a sharpshooter.
The sharpshooter was found not guilty years ago, but this recent settlement addresses allegations the police failed to get a search warrant.
“There was an allegation that the county had violated the decedent’s fourth amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure when two rounds of tear gas and a throw phone were thrown into the house without first obtaining a warrant from a magistrate,” says Chris Cooke, Grand Traverse County’s attorney.
A copy of the settlement obtained by IPR shows the county agreed to pay $250,000 to Carlson’s family to address the search warrant allegations.
“We were prepared to try that litigation and felt that we would prevail,” says Cooke, “but there’s a cost obviously associated with litigation.”
Cooke says the settlement is a “favorable outcome” and closes the case.
Grant Parsons, the Carlson family’s attorney, would not comment at this time.
