The family of Sherman Butler, a Detroit man shot by a bailiff during a mental health crisis, has filed a $150 million lawsuit against city officials. The incident occurred in July 2024, when Butler was being evicted from his apartment near Palmer Park. At the time, he was found holding a box cutter to his neck and insisted the officers would have to kill him, stating he would not leave his residence. In response, police called for a crisis intervention team.
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Two years later, Butler's mother, Velma Wafer, recalls her son's personality, saying, "He was creative. He was a comedian. He loved art, tattoos." Attorney Maurice Davis, representing the family, emphasized that it was clear to those on the scene that Butler was in a mental health crisis, and the crisis team was needed for a non-violent resolution. He criticized the bailiff for acting prematurely, implying that Butler's death resulted from reckless behavior.
The lawsuit alleges that the situation escalated unnecessarily due to the bailiff and Detroit police not waiting for the crisis intervention team to arrive. Eyewitness accounts state that after police attempted to use a taser on Butler, the bailiff drew his weapon and fatally shot him. A report from the Board of Police Commissioners noted multiple protocol violations by law enforcement, including improper use of tasers.
Attorney Dionne Webster-Cox questioned how the bailiff felt justified in shooting Butler when police were present and called for a more appropriate response to mental health crises. "A mental health crisis does not equate to murder, and that’s exactly what happened that day. We often see standoffs last for hours; why couldn’t we give him 30 minutes?" she questioned.
In response, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office declined to file charges against the bailiff, maintaining that police had attempted to de-escalate the situation, and the bailiff acted in self-defense when Butler allegedly lunged at them.