LAGUNA BEACH – Family members of the man Laguna Beach police shot after a car crash said his death was unjustified, according to a claim filed against the city.
A lawyer for Colby Koenig’s parents filed the claim June 23, six months after the 25-year-old Foothill Ranch man’s death. Koenig died Jan.12, hours after police shot at him and his 2006 Mitsubishi Evolution at Pacific Coast Highway and St. Ann’s Drive.
Witnesses told police the car was traveling up to 100 miles per hour at around 8 a.m. and driving on the wrong side of Coast Highway. The Mitsubishi then crashed at the St. Ann’s intersection, hitting five other cars. Police arrived seconds later. When the Mitsubishi began to drive away, police ordered Koenig to stop, and then fired five or six shots at him, witnesses said at the time.
The District Attorney’s office is investigating the shooting, as it does all officer involved shootings. At the time, police said they had received reports about Koenig driving recklessly, but would not comment on why officers fired.
The claim says Koenig was unarmed and did not pose a threat to officers or bystanders. But police shot anyway, the claim adds, due to poor training on using deadly force and a known tendency to use force improperly.
In addition to the actions of the unnamed officers who responded, the claim asserts wrongful death, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil rights violations and civil conspiracy.
The amount asked for in the claim was unspecified except as more than $25,000. The matter has yet to be reviewed by the city’s claims adjustor and will go before the City Council. The city has 45 days to respond.
City Manager Ken Frank said he looked forward to completion of the District Attorney’s investigation and release of coroner’s reports.
“I think once the information is in the hands of the parents, there won’t be a lawsuit,” he said.
Contact the writer: ckoerner@ocregister.com or 949-454-7309
