Aurora Settles for $1.9 Million with Family Handcuffed at Gunpoint

The settlement resolves a lawsuit stemming from a 2020 incident where police mistakenly detained Brittney Gilliam and her family.

The city of Aurora, Colorado, has agreed to a $1.9 million settlement with Brittney Gilliam and her family after police mistakenly handcuffed them at gunpoint, believing their car was stolen.
The incident, which occurred in 2020, involved Gilliam, her daughter, sister, and two nieces being forcibly detained during a supposed vehicle theft investigation.
Prosecutors found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the officers, citing adherence to training for high-risk stops, but criticized the incident as "unacceptable and preventable."
The settlement aims to compensate the family for their trauma and sends a message to law enforcement about the importance of discretion and common sense in their responses.
This case adds to Aurora's history of costly settlements over police misconduct, including a $15 million settlement in 2021 for the death of Elijah McClain.