SIMI VALLEY : Man Takes 1st Step to Sue City in Shooting

A Simi Valley man shot by police in February has filed a claim against the city, saying the shooting was unnecessary and caused him permanent injuries.

In response, Simi Valley City Atty. John Torrance called the claim by Wesley Simpson, 42, “totally without merit.”

Before Simpson can sue Simi Valley over the incident, he must file a claim against the city.

During the February incident, police came to Simpson’s home after one of his sons called to report that his father was suicidal and armed.

Enraged by the call, Simpson apparently went out in front of the house and was waving a rifle when police arrived. Officers shot Simpson three times after he refused to drop his weapon and seemed to be pointing it in their direction.

In his claim, Simpson said he suffered “serious and permanent disfigurement and disability” due to the shooting.

He also said that his youngest son, an 11-year-old who witnessed the incident, had been emotionally traumatized.

But Torrance said the officers made the right decision.

“When an individual is behaving erratically and has a firearm and won’t put it down, officers have to act swiftly,” he said.

Pointing to the death of Police Officer Michael Clark two weeks ago, Torrance said that taking no action might meet with even more tragic results.

A 53-page report on the incident by prosecutors from the Ventura County district attorney’s office, completed in April, cleared the officers involved in the shooting of any wrongdoing.

Contacted at his home Wednesday evening, Simpson said he could not comment on the case.