Denver to Pay $3.76 Million After Botched Raid Based on Apple's Find My App

Apple's Find My App Entangles Denver in $3.76 Million Legal Settlement

The City of Denver is facing a hefty $3.76 million bill in compensation and damages, stemming from a botched police raid in 2022 that relied on Apple's Find My application. The incident involved the wrongful search of an elderly woman's home in pursuit of a stolen truck believed to be loaded with guns.

According to a CNN report, Denver police were attempting to locate a stolen vehicle containing firearms, ammunition, and a substantial amount of cash. Law enforcement utilized Apple's Find My technology, accessed through another iPhone, to pinpoint the truck's supposed location.

However, the police mistakenly targeted the residence of 78-year-old Ruby Johnson, leading to a devastating and unwarranted intrusion.

Johnson subsequently filed a lawsuit against the police department, resulting in the $3.76 million settlement. Furthermore, the involved officers, Detective Gary Staab and Sgt. Gregory Buschy, were individually named as defendants. Although the Denver Police Department initially cleared both men of any wrongdoing, the jury ultimately disagreed.

ACLU Highlights Training Deficiencies in "Find My" App Usage

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) represented Johnson in the case, arguing that the raid was based on a misinterpreted "location ping" from an iPhone's Find My app. The lawsuit emphasized that the officers lacked adequate training and understanding of the technology.

The complaint detailed that the police acted on a "Find My" signal originating from an iPhone 11, likely still inside the stolen truck. However, the indicated search area encompassed portions of six different properties spanning four city blocks.

Attorney Condemns Lack of Training and Policy Changes

In a statement, Johnson's attorney, Tim Macdonald, expressed his concern over the lack of proper training and subsequent policy adjustments within the police department. He stated: "We are disturbed by the lack of training or policy changes and hope that the amount of the punitive damages award will send a strong message that the police department must take seriously the constitutional rights of its residents."

The ACLU and the jury concluded that the officers lacked reasonable justification for targeting Johnson's home. Each officer is now liable for nearly $1.25 million in punitive and compensatory damages. As of now, the City of Denver has not filed an appeal against the verdict, according to a Denver District Court clerk.