On Wednesday, the family of Douglas Harless filed a lawsuit in Laurel Circuit Court against the London Police Department and numerous officers, along with the City of London, following the fatal police raid that killed Harless in his home, a release read.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for violations of Harless’ constitutional rights and wrongful death under Kentucky law.
On the night of Dec. 23, 2024, several London police officers, some armed with AR-15 style rifles, arrived at Harless’ home at 511 Vanzant Road in Lily purportedly searching for a stolen weed eater, the release explained. The officers attempted to execute a search warrant reportedly intended for a different residence, 489 Vanzant Road.
Just before midnight, officers made entry into his home and fired their guns, striking Harless multiple times and killing him, according to the release.
Harless, a 63-year-old maintenance worker, father and grandfather, had no criminal record beyond minor traffic infractions and was not a suspect in the underlying investigation, the release reported.
The complaint alleges that officers knowingly or recklessly raided the wrong home, ignored obvious signs that they were at the wrong address and acted outside their jurisdiction.
Credit: LEX18/Lexington
