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Shooting victim sues sheriff
By GRAHAM BRINK © St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2000 TAMPA -- A man shot twice as he ran away from a deputy has filed a lawsuit seeking $10-million from the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. Howard Richmond limped into the courthouse to file the suit Tuesday morning, a cane in his right hand and his lawyer, Joe Episcopo, at his side. Richmond told reporters that the shooting on Aug. 15, 1998, left him with numerous injuries and has prevented him from returning to work. "It's just like my life is just gone," said Richmond, 30. "(It was like) getting shot down like a dog." Deputy Christopher Madiedo, 23 at the time, pulled over a car at 3 a.m. occupied by Richmond and another man at the Shell gas station on Nebraska and Fowler avenues. The car had an improper license tag. Richmond said he got scared and ran when Madiedo pointed his gun. The two had scuffled briefly, Richmond said, but said he was running away when Madiedo fired twice. Madiedo told a detective he used his Ruger 9mm service pistol in self-defense after he and Richmond struggled on the ground near the car. He said Richmond was a few feet away when he fired. Several bystanders fueling motorcycles at the station supported Richmond's version. They said he was shot as he ran away and that Madiedo was not in danger when he fired his gun. The State Attorney's Office cleared Madiedo of criminal wrongdoing but the Sheriff's Office Shooting Review Team determined that Madiedo violated policy by firing his gun. The inquiry found that while Madiedo believed his life was in danger, the evidence showed it was not. He was suspended without pay for 15 days. Prosecutors charged Richmond with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, attempting to take an officer's gun and misdemeanor possession of marijuana, although they later dropped all the charges. The FBI investigated whether Richmond's civil rights were violated but no federal charges have been filed. A former forklift operator, Richmond had a criminal record that included charges of carrying concealed weapons, and he served time in prison for being a felon in possession of a gun. Richmond underwent surgery after the shooting and spent two weeks in the hospital. The suit claims that Richmond suffered damage including constant pain, disability and physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity to enjoy life and loss of earning capacity. "He was shot two times in the back for doing nothing," Episcopo said. "Now Howard has to live with the aftermath." Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Rod Reder said the office does not comment on pending litigation. Madiedo was not named as a defendant in the suit. In an unrelated incident, Madiedo was shot in April after following a suspect around a corner of the Mapleleaf Apartments on E 140th Avenue. His bulletproof vest prevented any serious injury. The shooter remains at large. Episcopo said he has tried to talk with the Sheriff's Office about the Richmond shooting but has met with constant resistence. "Their attitude has been that they didn't do anything wrong," he said. "This is a clear case of unreasonable force, force that changed a man's life forever." - Graham Brink can be reached at (813) 226-3365 or brink@sptimes.com.
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