According to a report by CNN, Denver police They were trying to recover a stolen truck loaded with guns, ammunition and cash. For this, the police used Apple’s Find My technology on another device. iPhone However, the police chose the wrong house from a very large area, burst in and caught the thieves.
Due to this wrong raid, 78-year-old Ruby Johnson He filed a lawsuit against the police. As compensation, the city will pay Johnson a $3.76 million award.
Also accused officers – Detective Gary Staab and Sgt. An individual lawsuit was also filed against Gregory Buschy. Denver police had previously cleared both men of the crime, but the jury disagreed.
What role did Apple’s Find My app play?
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit on behalf of Johnson. The raid was conducted based on “a location ping from the iPhone’s Find My app, which officers allegedly did not understand and had received no training on,” the lawsuit said.
Police relied on a “Find” ping from an iPhone 11 that was likely still in the stolen truck, according to the complaint. But the designated area included portions of six other properties across four city blocks.
Johnson’s lawyer said in a statement: Tim Macdonald “We are disturbed by the lack of training or policy changes and hope the punitive damages amount will send a strong message that law enforcement must take residents’ constitutional rights seriously,” he said.
The ACLU and the jury concluded that there was no reason for the two police officers who ordered the raid to choose Johnson’s home as a target.
The officers must also pay approximately $1.25 million each in punitive and compensatory damages. The Denver District Court clerk said the city has not yet appealed the decision.
