High Court awards damages to Police Constable Wayne Dawson

A High Court ruling has now been handed down in a case stemming from 2021 police shooting incident in Orange Walk Town, finding that the use of force by an officer was unlawful and awarding damages to the injured constable.  In its final ruling, the High Court awarded Dawson forty thousand dollars in general damages and an additional four thousand dollars in special damages, along with interest and prescribed costs.  The judgement, delivered by Justice Derrick Sylvester in the High Court of Justice today, arises out of an October 14, 2021, incident involving Police Constable Wayne Dawson and Corporal David Grajalez.  The court heard that Dawson, who was off duty at the time, had been involved in a minor traffic accident in Corozal before leaving the scene. Police subsequently issued a lookout for his vehicle, which led to a pursuit involving officers from Corozal and Orange Walk.  According to evidence presented, the chase ended in Orange Walk Town where Dawson stopped his vehicle. It was during that encounter that Corporal Grajalez discharged his service firearm, striking Dawson and causing serious injuries.  In his claim, Dawson argued that the force used against him was excessive and unjustified, maintaining that he posed no immediate threat at the time he was shot. The defense, however, contended that the officer acted in self-defense, believing Dawson to be armed and dangerous. After reviewing witness testimony, video evidence, and legal arguments, the court found that there was no reasonable basis to justify the level of force used. The judge concluded that the shooting was disproportionate and not necessary in the circumstances.  The court further determined that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that Dawson posed an immediate threat or that he fired his weapon at police. As a result, the defense of self-defense was rejected.