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The Dripby Mark Reutter9:35 amMay 27, 20150

City settles police shooting case for $42,500

Innocent bystander hit by bullet fired by officer during an arrest

The mayor and Board of Estimates today agreed to pay $42,500 to a 39-year-old woman who was mistakenly shot by a Baltimore police officer during an early morning scuffle on York Road.

According to the out-of-court settlement, which ends a $1 million civil lawsuit filed by Tasha Coleman, Officer Quinton O. Smith discharged his service weapon around 2:30 a.m. on January 13, 2013, while struggling with a man he was trying to arrest on the 5400 block of York Road in Govans.

Coleman, who was leaving a club and was not involved in the incident, was struck in the thigh and knee by the bullet. She “incurred substantial medical bills” and was off work for nearly three months.

Officer Smith said he was responding to a complaint of a loud crowd on the street when he got into a verbal argument with a man that quickly escalated into a fight.

“In fear for his life,” Smith fired his gun, and the bullet struck both the man and Coleman. Last year, Coleman sued the police department for gross negligence.

Before the case was scheduled for trial in Baltimore Circuit Court, the city agreed to a cash settlement “to avoid the expense, time and uncertainties of protracted litigation,” according to a statement presented to the board today.

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