Seattle to pay $1.975 million for excessive force suit

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Police Department has agreed to pay $1.975 million to settle an excessive force lawsuit.

The Seattle Times reports that Nathaniel Caylor sued Seattle police Officer Eugene Schubeck and another officer, Don Leslie, in federal court, alleging excessive use of force and outrage, and accused the department of conducting a negligent investigation into the 2009 shooting that resulted in a face full of screws, metal plates and bone grafts.

The City Attorney's Office confirmed Tuesday the city has also paid another roughly $524,000 in defense costs, including outside attorney's fees, for the two officers.

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole says that an officer made a difficult decision at a time when the department did not have as much training to avoid excessive force as they do now.