Possible Settlement in Sanders Police Suit
Friday, word came that a tentative $750,000 settlement was reached between the family of Nathaniel Sanders II and the City of Austin.
A little over a year ago, on May 11, 2009, Nathaniel Sanders II was fatally shot by City of Austin police officer Leonardo Quintana. According to police reports, the shooting happened during a struggle for the gun Sanders had at his waist.
Complicating matters was the fact that Officer Quintana had failed to turn on his patrol car camera. Additionally, an independent review found his tactics "reckless" to the point of criminality.
News of the settlement came days before a civil rights lawsuit, brought by the Sanders family against the city, was to be heard in federal district court.
At least one city official, Council Member Bill Spelman, has gone on the record to state that the city had reached a settlement, though he did not know the amount (the $750,000 figure came from unnamed sources close to the negotiations). The settlement is expected to come up at the council's July 29th meeting, with any amount being approved by the body.
