The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
Rita Keith, as Administrator of the ) CASE NO.1:22 CV 1809
Estate of Arthur Keith, Deceased, )
and Individually as the Natural Parent )
and Mother of Arthur Keith, ) JUDGE PATRICIA A. GAUGHAN
Plaintiff )
vs. )
)
)
James Griffiths, ) Memorandum of Opinion and Order
Defendant. )
Introduction
This matter is before the Court upon defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
(Doc. 78). This case arises from the fatal shooting of Arthur Keith by defendant. For the
following reasons, the motion is GRANTED.
Facts
Plaintiff Rita Keith, as Administrator of the Estate of Arthur Keith, Deceased, and
Individually as the Natural Parent and Mother of Arthur Keith, filed this Complaint against
defendant James Griffiths, in his individual capacity and capacity as an employee of the
1
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. The Complaint alleges that plaintiff’s son, Arthur
Keith (“Keith”), was shot and killed on November 13, 2020, by defendant, an officer with the
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department (“CMHA PD”), at the King
Kennedy Housing Complex located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
The undisputed facts establish that defendant has been employed as a police officer
with the CMHA PD since 1992. On November 12, 2020, CMHA PD received a call from a
male reporting that a black van with tinted windows, suspected of being involved in the recent
discharge of a firearm and illegal activity, was parked in a parking lot near 6201 Haltnorth, a
CMHA property.1 Officers were dispatched to the location, but the van was not located. On
November 13, 2020, CMHA PD received another call, believed to be from the same male
who had called the previous day, again reporting that a black van with tinted windows,
suspected of being involved in illegal activity, was parked in the same parking lot. CMHA
PD Officers Robert Lenz and defendant and Sergeant Paul Styles responded to the call.
(CMHA PD Chief of Police Andres Gonzalez decl.). Defendant arrived on the scene,
followed by Sergeant Styles and Officer Lenz. Defendant proceeded to the front, passenger
side of the vehicle. The other officers went to the opposite side. A male, later identified as
Keith, exited on the passenger side. Styles and Lenz heard defendant yell that Keith had a
gun. Then they heard gunshots. Keith ran a short distance and fell to the ground. Styles
arrived first to his prone body and observed a gun which was then secured, photographed, and
examined by the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory. The DNA on the
gun matched only Keith’s DNA.
1 Audio of the dispatch calls has been filed. (Doc. 77).
2
Members of the Cleveland Division of Police Use of Deadly Force Investigation Team
(“UDFIT”) responded to the scene and interviewed Sergeant Styles and Officer Lenz. They
then did further investigation, including follow-up interviews and an interview of the
defendant. Styles told the UDFIT that he received a call for a male suspect with a firearm in
the area of 6201 Haltnorth in a vehicle with an out-of-state plate. He spotted the vehicle in the
parking lot. Defendant and Officer Lenz also arrived on the scene. Styles was at the rear of
the suspect vehicle while defendant was at the front. Styles heard defendant yell, “Drop the
gun, drop the gun!” Styles heard several gunshots, but did not know who fired the shots. He
saw the suspect run south and then west through the courtyard. All three officers pursued the
suspect on foot. When Styles rounded the corner, he saw the suspect lying supine on the
ground. The suspect’s Glock model 19 was on the ground near the suspect’s right hand. After
observing that the suspect had been shot, Styles notified CMHA radio to send EMS and
additional units. Defendant secured the suspect’s firearm. (Doc. 81 Ex. 2).
Styles provided a videotaped interview to the UDFIT on December 11, 2020. A
summary of the interview provides that Styles stated he was closer to the back of the van
when he heard defendant state, “He’s got a gun!”2 Styles heard gunshots, a slight pause, and
more gunshots. Styles did not see who was shooting. Styles then saw Keith lying prone on
the ground near a tree stump. Styles ran over to Keith and saw a black firearm on the ground
near Keith’s right hand. After requesting EMS, and finding no pulse on Keith, defendant
secured the firearm which looked like a Glock with an extended magazine. Lenz started
2 Upon viewing the videotaped interview, Sgt. Styles said that he heard defendant
say, “Stop, don’t move, gun.” This was followed by multiple shots.
3
administering first aid, and residents began arriving on the scene who were hostile towards
the police officers. (Doc. 81 Ex. 11).
Styles testified at a deposition that when he walked up to the vehicle he did not see
Keith holding a gun, did not see Keith pointing a gun at defendant, and did not see a gun
when he was chasing Keith. (Styles depo. at 84).
Styles also submitted a declaration with the Motion for Summary Judgment. He states
that he arrived on the scene after defendant and before Lenz. The van was backed into the
parking spot and was running. Just behind the back bumper of the van was a sidewalk.
Defendant’s vehicle was stopped beyond the passenger side of the van which had tinted
windows. Defendant approached the van from the passenger side and Styles from the driver’s
side. Lenz was behind Styles. Once they confirmed no one was in the driver’s seat or front
passenger seat, Styles moved toward the backseat. It was difficult to see because of the tinted
windows, but Styles could see a silhouette of a person in the back passenger side move
forward. The van had a sliding door and it was opening. He heard defendant say, “Stop, don’t
move” and “gun.” He then heard shots fired but could not see who had fired or if someone
had been shot. As he was making his way around the van toward the other side, defendant
yelled, “He has a gun, he has a gun.” Styles did not see a suspect, but then looked down the
sidewalk and saw a male wearing blue running toward 6201 Haltnorth. Styles started to run
after him, but lost sight of him as he rounded the corner. When he peered around the corner of
the building, Styles saw the suspect on the ground in front of 6201 Haltnorth by a tree. Styles
was the first to reach the suspect where he had fallen and observed his gun on the ground a
few inches from his right hand. Defendant arrived next and also saw the gun. The two secured
4
the suspect in handcuffs and when Styles realized he had been shot, he called EMS. Lenz
arrived and administered aid. A very angry and hostile crowd gathered quickly. While Styles
watched the crowd, defendant secured the gun. (Styles decl.)
The on-scene statement that Officer Lenz provided to the UDFIT stated that defendant
and Styles were the first to arrive on scene. Lenz exited the zone car and walked up to the
suspect vehicle. He heard defendant yell, “Drop the gun, drop the gun!” He then heard
several gunshots, but did not know who fired the shots. He saw the suspect run south and then
west through the courtyard. All three officers pursued the suspect who he then saw lying
supine in the courtyard and not responding to verbal commands. First aid was administered.
(Doc. 81 Ex. 2).
Lenz’s December 11, 2020 videotaped interview stated that he heard defendant yell
“show me your hands,” and that “moments later gunshots happened.” (Doc. 82).
Lenz testified at deposition that he first saw Keith when he was fleeing and he did not
see him with a gun. (Lenz depo. at 59).
In his declaration, Lenz states that defendant arrived first on the scene, followed by
Styles, and then himself. The van had very dark tinted windows and the officers were unable
to see inside, even with the spotlight. Defendant approached the van from the passenger side
and Styles approached from the driver’s side. The van was backed in and running. As he
walked toward the van, Lenz was watching someone in a red and white covering walk away
from the van that matched the description of the dispatch call. He heard a door pop and
defendant give the commands that included “show me your hands.” Then he heard three or
four shots fired and saw the suspect wearing a blue hoodie and jeans flee south toward 6201
5
Haltnorth. Styles was the first to chase the suspect followed by defendant. Lenz started to run
but then returned to the van to make sure there were no additional occupants. Lenz heard
Styles call for EMS over the radio. Lenz grabbed his medical bag and ran to the location
where the suspect was lying on the ground. He saw defendant holding Keith’s gun. When he
was rendering medical aid, a growing crowd of angry and hostile residents had gathered and
were shouting at the officers. Since they were in an open area, it was necessary to secure the
weapon. (Lenz decl.)
The UDFIT interviewed defendant on February 12, 2021. A brief synopsis3 of the
interview provided by the interviewing officers states that defendant responded to the area in
connection with a male in a dark colored vehicle that was involved in an aggravated robbery,
felonious assault shooting that occurred earlier in the week. Upon his arrival, defendant
spotted a dark colored vehicle with out-of-state license plates. The vehicle involved in the
prior crime also had out-of-state plates. Defendant parked his marked police car near the
suspect vehicle and as he was approaching it, he observed a male exiting. Defendant ordered
the male to show his hands and defendant observed the male holding a firearm in his left hand
while attempting to close the vehicle door with his right hand. Defendant ordered the male to
drop the gun but the male ran away from the vehicle. Defendant chased the male and the male
turned towards defendant with the firearm still in his hand. The male then raised the firearm
3 Plaintiff filed a Notice of Manual Filing of Exhibits which contains the video
recorded interview of defendant. Defendant objected to consideration of the
exhibits on the basis that the notice was filed after the deadline for filing the brief
in opposition, the notice does not identify the videos contained therein, and the
videos have not been authenticated in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 56. The
objection is moot because the video provided by plaintiff lacks an audio
component and, therefore, the Court was unable to consider it.
6
towards defendant. Defendant was in fear of his life and fired his service weapon at the male.
The male continued to run a short distance and then fell to the ground. Defendant approached
the male and observed the suspect’s weapon on the ground near him. Defendant kicked the
firearm away from the male. Defendant then handcuffed the suspect. (Doc. 81 Ex. 13).
At deposition, defendant testified that after Keith exited the van, he “ma[de] three to
four steps” and then “turned and raised his left hand up at me as if he was going to shoot. I
felt I was going to get shot at that moment and that’s when I fired.” (Griffiths depo. at 197).
Defendant’s declaration further states his version of the events. He heard a dispatch
regarding a suspicious black van with tinted windows and out of state license plates suspected
of criminal activity which involved a shooting that had occurred a few days earlier. He, Sgt.
Styles, and Officer Lenz responded to the call. He and the other officers were in full CMHA
PD uniforms and individually operating CMHA PD marked units. Defendant was the first
officer to arrive in the parking lot. He pulled past the suspicious van, which was backed into a
parking spot, onto the passenger side of the van. Sergeant Styles pulled in after defendant and
stopped his unit one or two spots away from the van on the driver’s side. Officer Lenz pulled
in behind Styles. Defendant exited his vehicle and initially walked toward the sidewalk one
car from where the van was parked. He saw Styles do the same thing on the driver’s side of
the van. When defendant and Styles arrived at the sidewalk, Styles was going to approach the
driver’s side of the van and defendant was going to approach the passenger side. As defendant
walked up the passenger side of the van, he could not see inside the van due to the tinted
windows. Defendant tried to look through the front passenger window but could not see in
the van. He also tried to look through the front windshield but could not see in the van.
7
Because the van was running, defendant knocked on the front passenger door window
and announced “police” but received no response. Defendant then flicked the handle on the
front passenger door. He found it unlocked and opened it. Defendant was then able to confirm
that there were no occupants in the driver’s seat or front passenger seat. He saw a key fob on
the front, center console of the van. Defendant then turned and looked at the back seat of the
van from the front passenger door. He first looked at the seat behind the driver’s seat and
there was no one in that seat. Defendant then looked over at the right back passenger seat and
saw a figure wearing a blue shirt move closer to the sliding door on the passenger side of the
van attempting to hide or conceal himself. At that point defendant announced “police” and
“let me see your hands.” There was no response from the occupant.
Defendant then heard a click and the back passenger sliding door started to open. As
the door started to slide open, defendant could see that the suspect, later identified as Keith,
had his right hand on the door as if guiding it open and he was holding a gun in his left hand
straight across his stomach. Defendant yelled at Keith to “drop the gun” several times so that
Styles would know that Keith had a gun. Keith did not comply with the command to drop the
gun and held on to it. At that point defendant had his gun drawn.
As defendant was yelling “drop the gun,” Keith started to slide out of the van and
defendant tried to back away but his back was against the inside of the open front passenger
door. Keith exited the van and took three or so steps toward the sidewalk and the back
bumper of the car parked next to the van. As he was moving toward the sidewalk, he turned
sideways half facing defendant, raised his left arm, and pointed his gun at defendant.
Defendant felt that Keith was going to shoot him and feared for his life. Defendant fired his
8
weapon. Keith then started running south and Styles ran after him. After a few seconds,
defendant followed Styles on foot in the direction that Keith had fled.
Styles was the first officer to reach the area where Keith had fallen to the ground and
saw the gun in front of Keith. When defendant saw the gun, he stepped on it and moved it out
of reach for officer protection. Defendant then assisted Styles in handcuffing Keith.
Defendant reached for Keith’s left arm from underneath him and secured him. He realized
that Keith had been shot when he saw blood.
As this was happening, a growing crowd of hostile and angry residents started to
gather. For the officers’ safety and protection and to prevent anyone from grabbing the gun
and using it on the officers or taking it, defendant secured it. In picking up the gun, defendant
was careful to hold it in a manner so that he did not touch the trigger or the slide or the
interior portion of the magazine. Once Chief Gonzalez and Commander Burdyshaw arrived,
the Chief ordered Burdyshaw to secure the weapon. Defendant followed Commander
Burdyshaw to his CMHA PD vehicle, and he secured the weapon in his trunk where it was
ultimately photographed. (Griffiths decl.).
Chief Gonzalez’s declaration provides that when he arrived on the scene with
Commander Burdyshaw, he observed defendant holding a non-CMHA PD weapon which
defendant confirmed was Keith’s and found on the ground where he had fallen. Gonzalez
ordered Burdyshaw to secure the weapon and it was immediately taken to the trunk of the
police vehicle. (Gonzalez decl.) Burdyshaw testified that he took possession of the firearm
from defendant and secured it in the trunk. (Burdyshaw depo. 22-28).
Crime scene reports include photographs where Keith fell to the ground, a key fob, a
9
plastic bag containing suspected marijuana, and swabs of the suspected blood. (Doc. 81 Ex.
9). There are no crime scene photos of a gun near the body of Keith at the location in the
courtyard where he fell to the ground. Cleveland police photographs of the crime scene
include a Glock 9mm with an extended magazine identified as the suspect’s weapon and
photographed in the back of an unmarked CMHA police vehicle. (Sgt. David Borden depo. at
146, Ex.3).
A DNA Laboratory Examination Report states the conclusions of the examination of
the Glock model 19. (Griffiths decl. Ex. B). The laboratory report found a match between the
grip and trigger areas, the surface of the slide, and surface of the magazine and Keith. It
found no statistical support for a match between these areas and defendant or Burdyshaw.
(Id.).
Plaintiff identified two juvenile eyewitnesses4 - Jahzir Melton and Demarion Starr.
A Cleveland Police Officer dispatched to the scene on November 13, 2020, reported:
A young male juvenile by the name of (Jahzir Milton5) stated to me “I saw
everything.” Jahzir stated that he was taking out the trash when he saw 3 police cars
pull into the parking lot. Jahzir then stated that when he was walking back from the
trash dumpster, he saw the male later identified as Arthur Keith get out of his vehicle
and tried to run and that when the police officers shot him 2 times. Arthur ran pass
[sic] his apartment and around the corner.
(Doc. 81 Ex. 17). Melton’s deposition was taken. When asked whether he saw Keith turn and
point his gun at the police officer, he responded, “No.” He testified that he did not know
Keith had a gun, and that he was shot right outside the passenger door of his vehicle and he
4 A third juvenile, Rayshawn Stewart, was previously excluded as a witness.
5 The witness’s name is spelled Melton at deposition.
10
was trying to run away. He also testified that he could not see Keith’s left hand, but could
only see Keith from the shoulders up. He could not see what was in his left hand, and he did
not see what was in Keith’s hands as he was running. (Doc. 63 at 79-89).
Demarion Starr was interviewed by members of the Cleveland police homicide unit in
March 2021. (Doc. 81 Ex. 16). He stated that he saw CMHA police approach Keith’s vehicle
in the parking lot. The CMHA police officer was on the drivers side of the vehicle. As Keith
exited the passenger side, the CMHA officer had his firearm out and pointed at Keith. Keith
turned away from the officer and started to run around the front of the vehicle. Starr heard
several gunshots and the officer shot Keith in the back. He did not see Keith with a firearm in
his hand. (Doc. 81 Ex. 16). Starr’s deposition was taken. As discussed below, his testimony
was inconsistent with the other documented evidence at the scene. Further, he testified that
he did not see Keith holding a gun, but he could not see Keith’s hands at all times. (Doc. 64
at 98).
Monica Hatcher, an adult, was also interviewed after the incident. She told police that
she observed Keith running from a CMHA police officer who yelled at him to stop. She heard
gunshots and Keith fell down. She did not see Keith with a firearm. (Doc. 81 Ex. 16).
Erica Armstrong, M.D. conducted the autopsy and issued her report. (Doc. 81 Ex. 3).
The report states in pertinent part:
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF RECENT INJURY:
Trunk
1. A gunshot wound is of the postero-lateral left upper trunk.
Entrance wound: The wound consists of a ¼" in diameter defect with eccentric pink
marginal abrasion that measures up to ¼" in width. The wound is located 54 ½" from
the left heel and 13" from the posterior midline. There is no fouling or stippling.
11
Path: After perforating the subcutaneous tissues, the gunshot wound perforates the
posterior left 7" rib (with inward beveling and fracture fragmentation), left upper lobe
of lung (through and through), pericardial sac, antero-lateral left ventricle (with
transaction of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery), septum, anterior
right ventricle, pericardial sac, right para-sternal soft tissues of intercostal space 3-4
(with grazing of the sternum), and the overlying subcutaneous tissues. There is acute
hemorrhage along the wound track. One thousand one hundred and fifty millimeters
and 600 ml of liquid and clotted blood are within the right and left pleural cavities,
respectively. Minimal residual blood remains within the pericardial cavity.
Exit wound: The exit wound is located on the right chest. The wound consists of a
¾" x ¼" Irregular defect located 52° from the right heel, 2 ½" from the anterior
midllne, and 1" superior to the right nipple.
Course and direction: The gunshot wound proceeds from back to front, rightwards,
and downwards.
(Id.). Dr. Armstrong’s deposition was also taken. 6
The Complaint asserts four claims for relief. Count One alleges excessive force under
42 U.S.C. § 1983. Counts Two, Three, and Four assert state law claims- survivorship action,
wrongful death, and loss of consortium.
This matter is now before the Court upon defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
Standard of Review
Summary Judgment is appropriate when no genuine issues of material fact exist and
the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477
U.S. 317, 322-23 (1986) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)); see also LaPointe v. UAW, Local 600,
8 F.3d 376, 378 (6th Cir. 1993). The burden of showing the absence of any such genuine
6 Following the Cleveland Police investigation, the Ohio Attorney General also
reviewed this matter and presented it to the Grand Jury which issued a No Bill
finding that defendant acted reasonably. (Doc. 67 Ex.34).
12
issues of material facts rests with the moving party:
[A]party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial
responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its
motion, and identifying those portions of “the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file,
together with affidavits,” if any, which it believes demonstrates
the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.
Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)). A fact is “material only if its
resolution will affect the outcome of the lawsuit.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242,
248 (1986).
Accordingly, the nonmoving party must present “significant probative evidence” to
demonstrate that “there is [more than] some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.”
Moore v. Philip Morris Cos., Inc., 8 F.3d 335, 340 (6th Cir.1993). The nonmoving party may
not simply rely on its pleading, but must “produce evidence that results in a conflict of
material fact to be solved by a jury.” Cox v. Kentucky Dep’t. of Transp., 53 F.3d 146, 150 (6th
Cir. 1995).
The evidence, all facts, and any inferences that may permissibly be drawn from the
facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Matsushita Elec.
Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986); Eastman Kodak Co. v. Image
Technical Servs., Inc., 504 U.S. 451, 456 (1992). However, “[t]he mere existence of a scintilla
of evidence in support of the plaintiff's position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on
which the jury could reasonably find for the plaintiff.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252.
Summary judgment should be granted if a party who bears the burden of proof at trial
does not establish an essential element of his case. Tolton v. American Biodyne, Inc., 48 F.3d
937, 941 (6th Cir. 1995) (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322). Moreover, if the evidence is
13
“merely colorable” and not “significantly probative,” the court may decide the legal issue and
grant summary judgment. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50 (citation omitted).
Discussion
(1) Excessive Force (§ 1983)
Plaintiff alleges that defendant used excessive force in violation of the Fourth
Amendment when he shot Keith multiple times while Keith “was unarmed at the time, and
running away from Officer Griffiths, striking Mr. Keith in the back, and killing him.” (Doc. 1
at 15). Defendant maintains that he is entitled to qualified immunity.
The Sixth Circuit has recently reiterated:
The defense of qualified immunity protects officials when “their conduct does not
violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable
person would have known.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818(1982). When it
is asserted, the plaintiff has the burden of showing that the defendant is not entitled to
qualified immunity. Burgess v. Fischer, 735 F.3d 462, 472 (6th Cir. 2013). Applying
qualified immunity requires asking: (1) whether an official violated a statutory or
constitutional right and (2) whether that right was clearly established. Pearson v.
Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 232, 129 S.Ct. 808, 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009). When the
answer to either of those questions is “no,” the other need not be addressed. Price v.
Montgomery County, 72 F.4th 711, 723 (6th Cir. 2023) (citing Pearson, 555 U.S. at
236, 129 S.Ct. 808).
Mosier v. Evans, 90 F.4th 541, 546 (6th Cir. 2024). The contours of a claim involving deadly
force by a police officer is well-established:
The Fourth Amendment prohibits police from using excessive force while making an
arrest, investigatory stop, or other type of seizure. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S.
386, 394-395 (1989). A use of force must be “objectively reasonable” to be
constitutional. Id. at 397. Objective reasonableness is “judged from the perspective of
a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.”
Martin v. City of Broadview Heights, 712 F.3d 951, 958 (6th Cir. 2013) (quoting
Graham, 490 U.S. at 396). It allows for the fact that “police officers are often forced
to make split-second judgments” about the amount of force necessary “in
circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving.” Mullins, 805 F.3d at
14
766 67 (quoting Graham, 490 U.S. at 396-97.
Under the Fourth Amendment, an officer's use of deadly force is objectively
reasonable only when there is probable cause to believe that the suspect poses an
immediate threat to the officer or to others. Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11
(1985); Graham, 490 U.S. at 396. To determine whether such probable cause exists,
we consider “the facts and circumstances of each particular case, including the
severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the
safety of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting
to evade arrest by flight.” Graham, 490 U.S. at 396. Our precedent establishes that the
question of whether a suspect posed an immediate danger is dispositive: where the
suspect poses no immediate threat to the safety of an officer or others, the use of
deadly force is unreasonable and violates the Fourth Amendment. Foster v. Patrick,
806 F.3d 883, 887 (6th Cir. 2015).
Raimey v. City of Niles, Ohio, 77 F.4th 441, 448 49 (6th Cir. 2023). See also England v. City
of Columbus, Ohio, 2023 WL 3756177 (6th Cir. June 1, 2023) (citing Lee v. Russ, 33 F.4th
860, 863 (6th Cir. 2022) (citing Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11 (1985)) (“The use of
deadly force is objectively unreasonable unless an officer has probable cause to believe a
suspect poses an immediate threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others.”); Roberts
v. Cruz, 2023 WL 2181145, at *3 (6th Cir. Feb. 23, 2023) (“Broadly speaking, the Fourth
Amendment prohibits the use of excessive force, and a determination of whether a particular
use of force was excessive turns on its reasonableness under the totality of the circumstances.
The relevant although not exhaustive circumstances for this analysis include the severity
of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the
officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by
flight.” ) (citations omitted).
Thus, the issue is whether, drawing all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor,
there is probable cause to believe that Keith posed an immediate threat to defendant. In
15
particular, the question is whether there is an issue of fact as to whether Keith had a gun and
pointed it toward defendant.
Plaintiff maintains that the issue of whether defendant’s use of deadly force in
shooting Keith was objectively reasonable is a jury question. Plaintiff asserts that the
eyewitness accounts establish that Keith never pointed a gun at defendant, Keith was never
seen running with a gun, Keith was shot in the back while fleeing, and a gun was not
observed on the ground where Keith fell after being shot. Plaintiff asserts that the testimony
of the medical examiner and the autopsy report is consistent with the eyewitness accounts that
Keith was shot in the back as he was attempting to flee.
Defendant argues that he was the single eyewitness to the shooting, and Melton and
Starr are unable to contradict his testimony. Moreover, defendant’s testimony is consistent
with all the physical and forensic evidence which plaintiff has not refuted with an expert. Nor
has plaintiff contradicted the testimony of Styles and Lenz regarding the fact that they heard
defendant yell that Keith had a gun and commanded him to drop it. Plaintiff has also not
contradicted the evidence that a gun was first seen by Styles just inches away from Keith’s
hand when he first reached Keith. Nor does plaintiff dispute the scientific evidence that
confirmed Keith’s DNA was on the recovered gun.
For the following reasons, the Court finds no issue of fact to preclude the granting of
summary judgment.
Defendant’s evidence shows that he was the only one of the three officers to witness
the shooting as Officer Lenz and Sgt. Styles were on the opposite side of the van and admitted
that they did not see who fired the gunshots. The on-scene statements of Styles and Lenz
16
both establish that they heard defendant alerting them that Keith had a gun, followed almost
immediately by gunshots. Styles heard defendant yell, “Drop the gun, drop the gun!” Styles
heard several gunshots, but did not know who fired the shots. Lenz heard defendant yell,
“Drop the gun, drop the gun!” He then heard several gunshots, but did not know who fired the
shots.
Defendant correctly maintains that Sixth Circuit precedent establishes that when the
defendant police officer is the sole witness, summary judgment is appropriate where there is
no direct evidence to rebut the defendant’s version of the events. In Burnette v. Gee, 137
Fed.Appx. 806, 809 (6th Cir. 2005), the court recognized:
where the officer defendant is the only witness left alive to testify, the award of
summary judgment to the defense in a deadly force case must be decided with
particular care. See Plakas v. Drinski, 19 F.3d 1143, 1147 (7th Cir.1994) (The
“defendant knows that the only person likely to contradict him or her is beyond reach
.... [s]o a court must undertake a fairly critical assessment of the forensic evidence, the
officer's original reports or statements and the opinions of experts to decide whether
the officer's testimony could reasonably be rejected at trial.”).
Nonetheless,
The district court concluded that there was no conflicting testimony on these issues
because Gee and Wilson were the only two people to witness the event and because
Wilson, now deceased, cannot offer a competing version of facts. Consequently, the
district court accepted Gee's version of the shooting as true and decided that Gee did
not violate Wilson's rights. Unfortunately for the appellants, no direct evidence exists
to rebut Sheriff Gee's version of the events. Furthermore, even considering the
circumstantial evidence presented by Appellants in a light most favorable to them,
there is no reasonable basis for overturning the district court's finding that Wilson
reached for or raised his rifle and struggled with Sheriff Gee over the weapon, and that
as a consequence, Sheriff Gee reasonably feared for his life when he shot Wilson. We
believe that the district court's thorough analysis of the facts supports its grant of
summary judgment in favor of Sheriff Gee. See Plakas, 19 F.3d at 1146 47.
According to defendant’s version of the events, Keith brandished his Glock with an
17
extended magazine, defied defendant’s commands to drop the gun, took several steps as
though he was going to run, and then turned and pointed his weapon at defendant who fired
his weapon at Keith in self-defense. Defendant maintains that under these facts, Keith did not
have a Fourth Amendment right to be free of deadly force, and defendant’s actions were
justified under the rapidly evolving, undisputed circumstances. This Court agrees and finds
that defendant’s use of deadly force was objectively reasonable because Keith posed an
immediate threat to defendant’s safety.7 Plaintiff fails to raise an issue of fact on the following
bases.
(a) eyewitnesses
Plaintiff asserts that “several eyewitnesses to the shooting reported that Mr. Keith did
not have a gun in his hand when he exited the Pacifica, nor did they see a gun in Mr. Keith’s
hands as he was running from Officer Griffiths.” (Doc. 81 at 7-8).
Initially, while plaintiff refers to the interview of Rayshawn Stewart, this Court has
previously excluded this individual as a witness for purposes of summary judgment and/or
trial. (Order, Nov. 30, 2023).
Plaintiff also discusses a report made by Cleveland Police Officers in March 2021
which summarizes statements made by Monica Hatcher to the police. Neither the officers nor
7 Because the question of whether a suspect posed an immediate danger is
dispositive to the inquiry, the Court need not reach the two other factors. Even if
it did, those factors are met as well. As for the severity of the crime, it is
undisputed that the CMHA PD received two 911 calls from the same caller
reporting the location of the van that was suspected of being involved in the
recent discharge of a firearm and criminal activity. It was believed that the
occupant of the van might have possession of a firearm. As to the final factor, it is
undisputed that Keith was actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by
flight.
18
Hatcher were deposed. The report conveys that Hatcher told police that she observed Keith
running from a CMHA police officer who yelled at him to stop. She heard gunshots and Keith
fell down. She did not see Keith with a firearm. (Doc. 81 Ex. 16). However, as defendant
points out, the report shows that Hatcher did not witness the critical events. The report states:
Monica Hatcher stated that she observed Arthur Keith running from the police officer
from across the street. Monica Hatcher pointed to 2573 Bundy Drive. Monica Hatcher
stated Arthur Keith and the Officer were running towards her from the north side of
the building located at 2573 Bundy Drive, across the Bundy Ave. and Arthur Keith
fell in front of 6201 Haltnorth.
Further investigation revealed that the incident did not start across the street where
Monica Hatcher stated she observed Arthur Keith running from the officer. The
incident actually started in the parking lot north of 6201 Haltnorth.
(Id). Thus, aside from the document being hearsay, it concludes that Hatcher did not witness
the critical moments of the incident and that the incident occurred in a different area/parking
lot.
This leaves the two juvenile witnesses Jahzir Melton and Demarion Starr. Defendant
maintains that the deposition testimony of these witnesses establishes that neither witnessed
the crucial events of November 13, 2020. For the following reasons, this Court agrees.
As set forth above, Melton reported to a Cleveland Police Officer on the day of the
incident what he had observed. Melton did not mention whether or not he saw Keith with a
gun. (Doc. 81 Ex. 17). Melton’s deposition was taken in September 2023. He testified in
relevant part:
Q. Where was Mr. Keith when the shots were fired?
A. Basically still trying to get out the van door. He trying to run and get
out, but he couldn’t even turn, for real. That’s before he started
shooting.
***
Q. Were your eyes on Officer -- on the officer or the officers when Mr. Keith exited,
19
or were they on Mr. Keith?
A. My eyes was on the van door to see like if somebody like -- then I heard them yelling
something, then that's when I seen somebody coming out, and it was Arthur, and that is when
he tried to run. That is when he started shooting.
Q. Did you see Arthur turn and point his gun at the police officer?
A. No.
Q. Did you know that Arthur had a gun?
A. No.
Q. Did you know that when Arthur ran and fell by the tree, that his gun was right in front of
his hands?
A. No.
***
Q. Did you see where Arthur fell?
A. Yes.
Q. When did you see him fall?
A. So when they starting shooting, boom, then that is when - - like before he got by like by
the doorstep, I had heard- - I had run in the house because I was scared...
***
Q. Okay. When you got [back] outside, was Arthur already - - did he- - was Mr Keith already
on the ground?
A. Yes.
***
Q. So you believe he was shot right outside the passenger door?
A. Yeah.
***
Q. So your testimony is Mr. Keith was standing right by the door when he was shot?
A. He wasn’t standing, he was running away, trying to run away.
***
A. When he got out the van, he tried to run. That is when the officer started shooting.
Q. Could you see Arthur’s left hand?
A. No.
Q. You could not?
A. You really only see like all this. (Indicating).
Q. You only saw from you only saw Arthur from the shoulders up?
A. Yeah.
Q. Because of the distance and the cars?
A. Yeah.
Q. So you couldn’t see what was in his left hand, right?
A. Right. No.
Q. No? And when you heard the shots fired, did you immediately run in the house?
A. Yeah. Not like like I seen it, like boom, boom. And then when everybody start running
and stuff, that’s when I ran in the house
Q. Okay.
20
A. -- because I was scared.
Q. So you didn’t see what was in Arthur’s hands when he was running, did you?
A. No. Like
Q. You said no?
A. No.
***
Q. So after you heard the shots- - I want to make sure. Before you heard the shots, you said
that all you could see was from the shoulders up of Mr. Keith, correct?
A. Because he was getting out the van.
Q. Okay. So you could not see his hands, correct?
A. Uh-uh.
Q. Is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. And then after the shots were fired and he started to run, you ran in the house --
Q. -- because you were afraid, correct?
A. Yes, came back out.
Q. And then after it was over and Mr. Keith had ended up in the grass by the tree in the front
of 6201 Haltnorth, you came back outside; is that correct?
A. Yeah.
(Melton depo. at 76-91). Therefore, Melton’s testimony shows that he could not see Keith’s
hands at the moment before and when he was shot.
As set forth above, Demarion Starr was interviewed by Cleveland police several
months after the incident, and he stated that he did not see Keith with a firearm in his hand.
Starr’s deposition was taken. Starr’s testimony was inconsistent with the established physical
facts. Namely, Starr’s testimony and the established facts are as follows:
! The van was red. However, the photographic evidence and the dispatch calls establish
that it was black.
! The windows were not tinted and one would be able to see who was in the van.
However, the photographic evidence and the dispatch calls establish that the windows
were tinted.
! The van was facing forward. However, the photographic evidence establishes that it
had been backed in.
! Keith was in the front driver’s side of the van and exited from the front driver’s side.
However, all the other testimony, including that of lay witness Melton, establishes that
Keith was in the back passenger side and exited from the back passenger side.
! Defendant was on the front driver’s side of the van, shouting to the man to get out.
However, all the other testimony, including that of lay witness Melton, establishes that
21
defendant was on the front passenger side.
! Keith only took three or four steps before falling to the ground after the shots were
fired. However, the photographic evidence shows that he ran a longer distance.
! Keith fell to the ground in front of the gate of the parking lot. However, the
photographic evidence shows that Keith fell to the ground in front of 6201 Haltnorth
by a tree.
(Starr depo. 36-67). Furthermore, Starr also testified that “after the shots had went off,
[Keith] stayed right there. But I had went into the house. I had run into the house after that.”
He did not come back outside until “like five minutes after everything had happened.”
(Id. at 67-68). He further testified:
Q. When he turned and faced the police officer, did you see him point his gun at the police
officer?
A: No, he didn't point anything, he just ran away, like he was trying to get away from
something.
Q. But when he turned -- the police officer says that he did have a gun and he pointed it at
him.
*** From your point of view, could you have seen him do that if he had his back to you?
A. He never had his back to me. It was his side, and the officer was pointing the gun at him.
Q. Could you see what he was holding in his left hand when he was behind the car door?
A: No.
Q. Is it possible Mr. Keith had a gun in his hand and you just couldn't see it from your
point of view?
A: No.
(Id. 73-74). But, Starr also testified:
Q. You were asked about whether you saw Arthur Keith holding a gun, by Mr. Jackson,
correct?
A. Yes.
Q. And you could not see Mr. Keith's hands at all times, could you?
A. No.
****
Q. And you can't say that he did not have a gun by his hand when he fell to the ground, can
you?
A. No, but I can say that after he got shot -- he was running. When he was -- when I saw him
running, he did not have anything in his hands. And then that is when he had got shot and fell.
As he was falling, there was nothing in his hands.
(Starr depo. 98-99).
22
Plaintiff maintains that “while there may be contradictions, and even conflicts, in the
accounts given by the eyewitnesses to this incident, any such conflicts and contradictions are
to be viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, and any credibility determinations
made from this testimony, must be done by the jury and not at summary judgment.” (Doc. 81
at 28).
The Court agrees with defendant that the undisputed physical evidence negates the
need for the credibility determinations. As stated above, even Styles and Lenz testified that
they did not see Keith holding a gun or pointing it at defendant. But, they did not see Keith’s
hands when he got out of the van. Nor did they notice Keith holding a gun as he was running.
However, the undisputed physical evidence establishes that a gun was found next to Keith’s
hand on the ground where he fell, the gun was photographed on-scene in the back of a CMHA
police vehicle, and the gun only had Keith’s DNA match. Additionally, the autopsy report
and Dr. Armstrong’s testimony (both discussed below) show that Keith was not shot in “the
back” as plaintiff maintains, but in the extreme left side of the back. Dr. Armstrong agreed
that defendant’s version of the events is consistent with the gunshot wound. Defendant’s
description of the immediate events leading up to the discharge of his weapon is not
contradicted by any witness, and no witness could see Keith’s hands immediately before,
during, or after the discharge. In particular, plaintiff does not dispute that Melton admitted he
could not see Keith’s hands at the moments leading to defendant’s shooting and when Keith
ran. Plaintiff further does not dispute that Starr admitted he could not see Keith’s hands at all
times.
(b) declarations of Lenz and Styles
23
Plaintiff asserts that Styles and Lenz have submitted declarations that “contain new
and additional accounts of the incident that were never previously reported” in their previous
two interviews to the police and their deposition testimony. Specifically, plaintiff contends
that Styles now states in his declaration that “I heard Griffiths say “stop don’t move”
and “gun” and he heard defendant state “he has a gun, he has a gun” and “[t]hereafter, I heard
shots….” And, Lenz’s declaration now states “I heard a door pop and I heard Griffiths give
the commands that included ‘show me your hands.’ Thereafter, I heard 3 or 4 shots fired….”
These statements are not new or contradictory to earlier statements. Styles’s on-scene
statement related that he heard defendant yell, “Drop the gun, drop the gun!” His later
videotaped interview stated that he heard defendant say, “Stop, don’t move, gun.” Similarly,
Lenz’s on-scene statement stated that he heard defendant yell, “Drop the gun, drop the gun!”
His videoptaped interview states that he heard defendant yell, “Show me you hands.”
More importantly, all of the statements consistently establish that defendant yelled
that Keith had a gun.
(c) declaration of Gonzalez
Plaintiff maintains that Chief Gonzalez’s declaration “amends and supplements” his
prior account. (Doc. 81 at 10). The Court disagrees. Plaintiff points out that Chief Gonzalez’s
declaration states that he observed defendant standing by a fence near where Keith had fallen
and holding a weapon that he recognized as not a CMHA PD weapon. The portion of
Gonzales’s deposition testimony to which plaintiff compares this statement in not
contradictory or supplemental in any way. Specifically, Gonzalez was asked by plaintiff’s
counsel whether he was aware of photographs showing the placement of the gun in the trunk
24
of the police car. Gonzalez testified that he was not aware of any photos of defendant taking
possession of the firearm or of Burdyshaw receiving possession. (Gonzalez depo. 111-113).
This testimony is simply not inconsistent with the declaration testimony.
(d) autopsy report
As set forth above, the autopsy report found the gunshot wound to be in the
“postero-lateral left upper trunk.” Dr. Armstrong’s deposition testimony explains that the side
of the body is divided by an imaginary line and anything behind that line is “postero” and
anything in front of that line is antero. The gunshot wound is several inches to the left of the
dividing line in the postero portion of the body. (Armstrong depo. 117-118). This means that
the wound is inches from the imaginary line down the side of Keith’s body. The report also
states that the wound is 13 inches from the posterior midline. Dr Armstrong explained at
deposition that the posterior midline is the spine- the midline of the back. (Id. 120-121). Thus,
while Dr. Armstrong testified that “the wound actually is not under the armpit,” (Id. 129) the
wound was only inches from the line along the side of the body and 13 inches from the spine.
A photo is submitted which shows the location of the gunshot wound. (Doc. 81 Ex. 4).
Dr. Armstrong agreed that the decedent’s arm in the photo is “being pulled forward by
someone.” (Id. at 118). Dr. Armstrong also testified:
Q: It's been reported that Mr. Keith pointed his gun at Officer Griffiths and was turning to
run and escape from apprehension. And Officer Griffiths, after the gun was pointed at him,
fired in self-defense. Would that be consistent with where you noted the entrance wound on --
at the time you did the autopsy on Mr. Keith?
A: That scenario as presented would be consistent with the wound -- entrance wound that I
described.
(Id. 129). She also testified that “if the position of his arm is down, then, yes, the wound
25
would appear that it would be closer to the upper part of the left arm.” (Id. 120). And,
Q : And again, it's my understanding that it's consistent with what you noted that when
Officer Griffiths reported that Keith turned, pointed the gun at him, and that's when he fired,
he could have been turned, moving in this direction, and then the shot that was fired hit him in
the area that you noted as the entrance wound in your report; correct?
A: That is one scenario, as I said before, that can explain my findings of the autopsy in
relation to the wound.
(Id. 163). Thus, Dr. Armstrong’s autopsy report and deposition testimony establish that the
gunshot wound is consistent with defendant’s version of the events.
Plaintiff argues that the autopsy report shows that Keith was shot in the back because
the autopsy report states that the “gunshot wound proceeds from back to front, rightwards,
and downwards.” But, this is merely consistent with the fact that Keith was shot 13 inches to
the left of his spine. Plaintiff points to the doctor’s deposition testimony, but this also shows
the same area:
A:... And then I went on to examine both externally and internally during the autopsy to
determine that there was a single entrance wound of the extreme left side upper back that was
connected to an exit wound on the right chest.
Q: So just for clarification, the entry wound that you’re talking about entered through the
back of Mr. Keith and out through the front of his body?
A: So I described and photographed and documented the entry wound to be the left side and
upper back. And then I also identified an exit wound of the right chest.
(Id. 19-20). Finally, plaintiff points out that she testified, “In this particular [autopsy]
photograph, I can see where the bullet had come in the back left rib cage area and had
fractured the rib in that location...” (Id. 32). Again, this does not establish that Keith was shot
“in the back,” but is consistent with the location described above.
Thus, the testimony plaintiff relies on does not establish that Keith was shot in the
26
back, but in the “extreme left side upper back.”
(e)the gun
Plaintiff does not address the forensic evidence that Keith’s DNA alone was found on
the recovered handgun. Plaintiff only addresses the fact that there is no crime scene
photograph showing the gun lying next to Keith on the ground, and there is no evidence of
any spent shell casings found in the area that were discharged from the Glock 9mm. Plaintiff
maintains, “the extent to which these officers have alleged that Officers Griffiths secured
from the ground next to Mr. Keith’s body the gun allegedly pointed at him by Mr. Keith, this
account raises genuine issues regarding the truth of this account, and whether this account
was concocted to rebut eyewitness accounts that Mr. Keith never pointed a gun at Officer
Griffiths and was never seen running with a gun.” (Doc. 81 at 28). However, plaintiff’s
suggestion is wholly unsupported by any evidence to refute the contemporaneous photograph
of the suspect’s gun in the police car or the forensic evidence establishing Keith’s DNA on
the gun.
The DNA Laboratory Examination Report states the conclusions of the examination of
the Glock model 19. There is no evidence to dispute that this was the firearm found near
Keith’s hand where he fell. The laboratory report found a match between the grip and trigger
areas, the surface of the slide, and surface of the magazine and Keith. It found no statistical
support for a match between these areas and defendant or Burdyshaw. (Griffiths decl. Ex. B).
This uncontroverted report is consistent with Keith having the gun in his hand as defendant
reported even though no other witness saw it in his hand. Nor does plaintiff dispute the
evidence establishing that it was Styles who first reached Keith and found the gun lying on
27
the ground where Keith fell, or that a hostile crowd gathered immediately making it necessary
to secure the gun. Plaintiff has not submitted evidentiary support for the assertion that Keith
did not have a gun.
For these reasons, no issue of fact precludes the granting of qualified immunity.
(2) State law claims
Having found that defendant is entitled to qualified immunity, defendant is also
entitled to summary judgment on the state law claims because he did not violate the Fourth
Amendment’s reasonableness requirement. As such, given that defendant’s actions were
objectively reasonable, he cannot be held liable for a survivorship action, wrongful death, or
loss of consortium.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment is granted.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Patricia A. Gaughan
PATRICIA A.GAUGHAN—™”
Dated: 4/30/24 United States District Judge
28