Federal Court Rules In Favor Of Utica In Civil Rights Lawsuit

The United States District Court has dismissed a lawsuit and entered a judgement in favor of the City of Utica and Utica Police Officer Anthony Ellis

The lawsuit stemmed from an officer involved shooting on Boilermaker Sunday of 2013 at Addison Miller Park.

Officer Ellis fired two rounds at Jessie Lee Rose, in response to Rose discharging a shotgun several times and not complying with Ellis’ commands to drop his weapon.

One of Ellis’ rounds struck Rose in the hand.

Rose died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Rose's estate and parents filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2014 alleging that Ellis used excessive unconstitutional deadly force and the Utica Police Department failed to adequately train its officers regarding the use of deadly force and interactions with the mentally ill.

The District Court issued a twenty-six-page decision dismissing all federal claims against Officer Ellis.