Opinion ID: 2973414
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mockler’s Version of the Facts

Text: Mockler claims that he was standing directly in front of Davis’ car, with his gun drawn, before Davis started to reverse and accelerate. (J.A. at 136-37). As the car began to reverse, Officer Mockler allegedly stepped east to realign himself with the vehicle and position himself to fire upon the vehicle if it continued to back up and pose a serious risk to the officers behind Davis’ vehicle. (J.A. at 136). Davis, however, stopped his backward movement and accelerated quickly forward. In his deposition, Mockler later testified that he began running east, with his back to Davis’ car, to a nearby fence at the edge of the parking lot to avoid Davis’ vehicle. (J.A. at 137, 140). He alleges that when he began running, he was in front of Davis’ vehicle. His focus was on getting to safety and avoiding the danger of Davis’ vehicle. He claims he wanted to get to the fence to avoid Davis and put the action in front of him. Mockler realized he could not make it to the edge of the lot quickly enough to avoid the vehicle. Davis’ vehicle was on top of him and turning into his path. Mockler claims that this put him in danger of being hooked by the vehicle. (J.A. at 141). Mockler estimates that Davis’ vehicle was traveling at approximately 30 to 40 m.p.h.. (J.A. at 142). Mockler fired one shot, as the car was swerving into him. At the time the shot was fired, Davis was leaning into the steering wheel toward the passenger’s side, away from Mockler. (J.A. at 143). Mockler indicated that as he fired, he “jumped out of the way, pulled one round, just jumped out of the way and twisted.” (J.A. at 144). He claimed that he was jumping back and twisting in the air at the same time. He stated that he fired through Davis’ open driver’s side window and did not have time to aim. Mockler believed that if he had not fired, he would have been run over, sucked under the car and killed, and alleges that he fired in self-defense. (J.A. at 121, 133). Mockler also alleges that Officer Kravanis, who was approaching the scene to effectuate the arrest, was in danger of being rammed by Davis’ speeding vehicle in his effort to escape. (J.A. at 241).