The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has reached a financial settlement with the family of Torey Breedlove, a statement from the Sheriff’s Office said.
Breedlove was shot by nine deputies in a hail of 100 bullets after he attempted to ram a stolen vehicle into Orange County Sheriff’s deputies in January 2010. The shooting, which took place at the Alta Westgate Apartment Complex at 6830 Alta Westgate Drive left Breedlove, 27, dead.
Following the killing, Breedlove’s family sued the Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office said agreement was reached with the Breedlove estate to pay $450,000. Of this amount, $255,000 will be split between the plaintiff’s lawyers for costs and fees. The monies, which will be paid from Florida Sheriff’s Risk Management Fund, brings to an end further appeals and all litigation.
Breedlove is survived by four children.
The Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement in light of the settlement:
Every day, law enforcement officers make split-second life and death decisions. In doing so, officers often assume great peril and have the responsibility of making use of force decisions that balance their personal safety with that of innocent victims and violators of the law. Any loss of life during police encounters is unfortunate and traumatic to all the parties involved.
The difficult decision to resolve this complex litigation should not be construed as an admission of wrongdoing. Instead, it reveals that the Breedlove estate, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the deputies shared a desire to resolve their differences and move forward.
The Orange County Sheriff‘s Office remains committed to protecting the rights of all people, reaffirms its commitment to keeping our communities safe and strives to implement best law enforcement practices.”
Earlier, a Grand Jury opted not to indict the nine Orange County Sheriff’s deputies who opened fire in a hail of bullets killing Breedlove.
