CHANNEL ISLANDS : Man Shot by Deputy Is Denied Damages

A man shot by a Ventura County sheriff’s deputy after he ran down another officer at Channel Islands Harbor almost three years ago has lost his bid for monetary damages in federal court.

An eight-person jury decided earlier this week that Daniel Lee Williams’ civil rights were not violated when he was shot in the arm and leg Dec. 3, 1992, as he attempted to flee from Deputies Larry Meyers and Brian Worthan. The officers were trying to serve a warrant on Williams for felony drunken driving and possessing a controlled substance.

Williams, of Santa Barbara, claimed in a two-week civil trial that the plainclothes officers did not properly identify themselves before opening fire.

Alan Wisotsky, attorney for the officers, argued that the deputies had the right to use deadly force based on the circumstances of the moment.

The incident occurred in a parking lot on South Harbor Boulevard, next to a marina the officers had been staking out, authorities said. As Williams circled the parking lot in his vehicle, the deputies swung their unmarked car into his path and got out, pointing their guns toward Williams and announcing their identities, according to testimony.

Williams continued driving and struck Meyers, who was thrown at least 25 feet and suffered a severely fractured leg, Wisotsky said. Recently promoted to sergeant, Meyers still has a rod in the injured leg, the attorney said.

Worthan then fired two blasts from his shotgun, hitting Williams as he screeched out of the parking lot. Williams was arrested a short distance away.

A commercial sea urchin diver, Williams claims he has been hampered in his work due to permanent nerve damage in his arm and leg.

Attorney Robert Sanger, who represents Williams, said a separate lawsuit claiming negligence and battery is pending in state court.