The families of two men who were shot and killed by Tucson police officers last year in unrelated incidents have filed $6 million in claims against the city, records show.
The first claim, filed in November by Ellcie Cajoux, is asking for $1 million from the city in the May 30 death of her son, Osee Calix.
An officer stopped Calix, who was riding his bicycle in the area of North Columbus Boulevard and East Fairmount Street, when he attempted to brake and fell, Tucson police said at the time.
Paramedics arrived to treat Calix’s minor injuries, and after receiving care he stood up and produced a handgun. When officers tried to take the gun from him, Calix fired at least one shot One of the officers then fired his gun, striking Calix, according to police.
It was determined later that Calix was wanted on a felony warrant for a probation violation out of Florida involving drug offenses.
The wrongful-death suit says the officers used excessive force and that the department exercised negligence in its training and supervision.
The officer who shot Calix is also named in the claim for an additional $1 million.
The second claim, filed Dec. 28, also alleges negligence by the department, this time in the July 8 death of Abraham Smith.
Tucson police arrived at Smith’s mobile home, in the area of West Grant Road and North Stone Avenue, at the request of the countywide Mobile Acute Crisis Team, which deals with mental-illness situations, Tucson police said at the time.
The team, which was there to serve Smith with a court-ordered emergency mental-health petition, requested the assistance of TPD’s Mental Health Support Team, according to police.
Officers were told Smith was mute and communicated through writing and gestures, and they attempted to make contact with him from outside the trailer for 15 minutes before entering the home, Tucson police said.
The three officers encountered Smith coming out of a back bedroom with what appeared to be two knives in his hands. Police later learned that Smith was holding a piece of broken glass from a mirror in one hand and a 10- to 12-inch kitchen knife in the other.
Two officers were able to back out of the trailer and out of Smith’s way, but the third was backed into a fence and unable to escape as Smith continued to advance, according to police.
The officer ordered Smith to stop before firing his gun, police said.
The claim, filed by Smith’s mother, Joan Smith, said the Mobile Acute Crisis Team was asked by Smith’s sister not to bring police because her brother was afraid of them.
Joan Smith is asking the city to settle the claim for $5 million.
TPD’s internal investigation into Smith’s shooting is closed and it was determined to be justified within policy, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a department spokesman.
Calix’s shooting is still under departmental review, Dugan said.
City Attorney Mike Rankin has previously told the Star that he’s unable to comment on pending litigation.
