This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Centerville has settled a lawsuit that stemmed from an officer-involved shooting that killed a man more than two years ago, according to a news release from the city's defense attorney.
Earlier this year, Molly Farrand sought $2 million in a lawsuit against the city and the officer who fired the shot that killed Farrand's husband, 38-year-old Vincent John Farrand. On Friday, Molly Farrand agreed to a settlement of $127,000 — $126,000 supplied by Centerville and $1,000 by the Utah Risk Management Mutual Association.
On April 13, 2014, Molly Farrand called dispatch after her husband allegedly left their home with a gun with the intent of confronting a man he believed had made an inappropriate advance toward her, court documents say. Molly Farrand told dispatchers her husband may have been suicidal, then-Assistant Police Chief Paul Child, now the chief, told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Before officers arrived, Vincent Farrand returned home, the documents say, but there is some dispute as to what happened during the police encounter.
Molly Farrand alleged in court documents that Vincent Farrand came out of their home with a gun in his waistband and laid it down immediately upon an officer's request, but defendants disagreed.
The officer, Jason Read, said Vincent Farrand walked toward him, shifting his finger on and off of his gun's trigger, muttering something along the lines of "Shoot me. You're going to have to shoot me," court documents say.
Vincent Farrand refused to obey the officer's repeated commands to stop and drop the gun, the release states, so Read fatally shot Vincent Farrand as he raised his gun toward the officer.
The Davis County attorney's office investigated the shooting and concluded that the officer was justified in using deadly force, the release states.
The city's insurance carrier believed settling would be less expensive than engaging in a "long, expensive legal fight," said Heather White, an attorney representing the defendants, in the release.
"Some citizens may be frustrated that the city didn't fight the allegations in court, but the city agreed the settlement would be in the best interests of the city's taxpayers," White said. "The settlement in no way should be construed that the officer involved was at fault. If Mr. Farrand had dropped his gun as the officer directed, the outcome would have been very different."
The terms of the settlement ensured that the plaintiff, Molly Farrand, would halt any "claims for wrongful death and personal injuries," among other possible claims against the defendants. Further, she agreed not to "publicly criticize, ridicule, defame or disparage" the city or Read.
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