The Las Vegas Police Department will pay $525,000 to a man with mental health issues its officers shot while he was naked and running away from the officers in an August 2017 incident, the Associated Press reports.
Jason Funke, then 25-years-old, had sought assistance at a local church because he was having suicidal thoughts. At some point, he left the church building, stripped off his clothes and sat on front lawn of the church. A church official called 9-1-1, telling them that Funke also had a gun and that he was suicidal, as well as some cash, on the lawn in front of him.
At least six officers, including Officer Mark Hatten, responded to the call. Armed with a rifle, Hatten watched as Funke stood and started pacing with the gun in his hand. Although Funke never pointed the weapon at anyone or made a threat to anyone other than himself, Hatten announced, “He’s starting to move. … I’m gonna take a shot.”
Another officer ordered Funke to drop his gun, and Funke complied, raising his hands in the air and started walking to two officers after placing his gun on the ground. As Funke was ordered to lay on the ground, a police officer dog started barking, snapping and growling. Apparently scared by the dog, Funke started running. The police dog was released and ran in the direction of Funke and two officers. As Funke ran away roughly in the direction of the gun he had dropped earlier, the dog attacked one of the other officers. With Funke still 30 feet away from the gun, Hatten shot Funke in the back, and Funke fell to the ground.
This is the second major settlement relating to Hatten, who is still employed by the Las Vegas Police. The department earlier paid a $500,000 settlement to the family of a 44-year-old man who died after being shocked with a Taser controlled by Hatten ten times in a 90-second period.