July 15, 2026·5:24-cv-00249-CAS-SP·Unpublished·By James Taylor
The Ninth Circuit reversed in part and remanded a district court ruling denying qualified immunity to police officers involved in a manhunt. The court held that the officers' conduct did not violate clearly established law under the Fourth Amendment.
Plaintiffs, representing the estate of a deceased individual, appealed the denial of a motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity by the County of Riverside and two officers. The district court had denied the motion, but the Ninth Circuit reviewed the legal issues de novo.
The court’s reasoning
The court held that the officers were entitled to qualified immunity because none of the cited cases established that their conduct was unlawful under the Fourth Amendment. The court distinguished the present case from prior decisions involving routine patrols or suspects not posing immediate threats, noting the suspect was accused of dangerous crimes, armed, and running toward a home after warnings.
What it means going forward
Police officers involved in similar high-risk manhunts involving armed suspects may now have a stronger basis for claiming qualified immunity against civil rights lawsuits.
