Protestor Shot in Groin With Foam Baton Entitled to Day in Court

A San Jose, Calif., police officer, who shot a protestor in the groin with a foam baton during a demonstration over George Floyd’s death in 2020, isn’t entitled to qualified immunity from the resulting civil rights claims, the Ninth Circuit said Wednesday.

Officer Michael Panighetti said that he shot Derrick Sanderlin after telling him to move because he was obstructing his view of two suspects he thought were preparing to throw paint on police officers. Sanderlin said that he was merely standing in the street holding his sign over his head when he was shot.

Sanderlin said Panighetti violated his ...