SAN DIEGO — A recent lawsuit has put the San Diego Police Department in the spotlight following a police shooting that left 29-year-old Steffon Nutall severely injured and allegedly permanently disabled. The incident unfolded after a distressing 911 call reported by Nutall’s ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, who claimed Nutall had threatened violence if police intervened.
Officer Robert Gladysz responded to the call, locating Nutall on a hillside near a Chollas View apartment complex. Body camera footage from the incident revealed tense moments leading up to the shooting. According to the video, Nutall, who was initially prone, stood while holding his cellphone in a manner mistaken for a firearm. Within seconds, Gladysz discharged 11 rounds, striking Nutall four times as his 11-month-old daughter was nearby, unharmed but distressed.
Despite initial reports from Officer Gladysz who alleged Nutall was armed, it was later confirmed that Nutall had only a phone in his hand at the time of the shooting. In the aftermath, Nutall was arrested and faces multiple charges including assault with a deadly weapon, although no firearm was found at the scene.
The implications of the shooting have rippled through the community, igniting debates about police conduct and the use of lethal force in crisis situations. Family members and representatives for Nutall argue that the police response was excessively aggressive and poorly managed, especially considering the presence of a young child.
Nutall’s cousin, Sanyte Hailemariam, expressed dismay, arguing that the incident could have been deescalated. According to Hailemariam, Nutall was attempting to protect his daughter, believing she was not safe with her mother at the time due to a dispute. This protective instinct, she claims, was incorrectly interpreted as a threat by the responding officers.
The lawsuit filed against the city and the San Diego Police Department alleges negligence and excessive use of force, further charging that the shooting has caused permanent physical and emotional damage to Nutall. Now confined to a wheelchair, Nutall seeks accountability and reforms within the police department to improve their engagement strategies, particularly in high-stress environments.
Legal representatives for Nutall, including attorney Hannah Hopson, insist that the shooting was unjustified and are pushing for charges against Officer Gladysz. They argue that the situation was escalated by the officer’s preemptive use of force without adequate assessment.
In defense, the San Diego Police Department maintains that the officers acted within the scope of their training given the information available at the time. They emphasize the complexities officers face during tense field operations, where decisions are made swiftly to protect public safety.
This incident has sparked further examination of police procedures and the implementation of body-worn cameras as tools for transparency. Community activists and legal analysts are closely monitoring the case, which may influence future policies on police engagement and accountability.
As the legal processes unfold, this case continues to raise critical questions about the balance between enforcement and empathy, and the systemic changes necessary to foster trust and safety in community-police interactions.