The City of Semmes denies wrongdoing by police officers who entered Bowman’s Auto Air at 3 a.m. on January 4, leading to a shootout.
Johnny Bowman, Jr. was shot five times by police. A Mobile County grand jury determined no indictment would be handed down in the case, but Bowman filed a federal lawsuit claiming Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment violations, municipal liability, assault and battery and wantonness.
Bowman was in his camper inside the business when officers responded to a possible burglary at the location. Bowman said he was startled and did not recognize that the people in the business were police officers. Officers said they announced their presence, and Bowman opened the door of the camper and began firing. They said they returned fire, striking him. An officer was grazed in the lower back by a bullet. However, Bowman claims officers fired shots first. He said he was blinded by flashlights and only fired shots after he was shot.
In response to the lawsuit, attorneys for the City, the two officers involved, and Semmes Police Chief Todd Freind claim immunity and stated that Bowman’s own actions were the cause of his injuries.
“Defendants deny the existence of any policy, practice, or custom that allegedly resulted in the deprivation of any of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights,” the response states.
The defendants are also requesting that all media reports on the incident be excluded from the court record.
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