A former St. Louis police officer, Luther Hall, has been awarded $23 million in damages after being brutally beaten by his colleagues while working undercover at a protest in 2017.
Hall, who is Black, was attacked by white officers during a demonstration following the acquittal of Jason Stockley, a white police officer who had killed Anthony Lamar Smith, a 24-year-old Black man.
Hall and his partner were assigned to arrest individuals inciting violence or damaging property, but during the protest, an officer ordered Hall to the ground. Despite complying, Hall was forcefully thrown to the ground twice, kicked, and hit with fists and police batons all over his body.
Luther Hall (Credits: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
The attack left him with severe injuries, including herniated discs, a jaw injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He was unable to eat and developed gallstones, requiring multiple surgeries. Hall was forced to retire early, ending his 22-year career with the St. Louis Police Department.
Judge Joseph Whyte of the St. Louis Circuit Court ruled in Hall’s favor, stating that he had to endure a severe beating at the hands of his colleagues, who were sworn to serve and protect.
Hall had previously settled a $5 million civil case with the city and sued three of his former colleagues, Randy Hays, Dustin Boone, and Christopher Myers, for their roles in the attack.
Boone was sentenced to one year in prison, while Myers received a year of probation. However, Hays failed to respond to the lawsuit and was served in prison on a civil rights violation.
Luther Hall Jr. (Credits: The New York Times)
Whyte issued a default judgment against Hays, noting that a text message sent by Hays indicated a “complete indifference” to the beating of an unarmed African American officer. Hays was sentenced to more than four years in prison in 2021 and is currently in custody. He has one year to contest the judgment.
Hall is also seeking arbitration from a fifth officer, Steve Korte, who was indicted in the federal case but later acquitted. The $23 million award is a victory for Hall, who suffered severe physical and emotional trauma at the hands of his colleagues.
