Dion Johnson: Mother of man killed by Arizona trooper ordered to pay legal fees
Mom of man killed by trooper ordered to pay legal fees
Dion Johnson was shot and killed by an Arizona trooper during an altercation near the Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard in 2020.
PHOENIX - The mother of a man who was killed by an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper nearly five years ago has been ordered to pay the state $350,000 in legal fees.
The backstory:
Dion Johnson, 28, was shot and killed by the trooper during an altercation near the Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard on May 25, 2020. Charges were not pursued against the trooper, who officials said acted in self-defense.
Johnson's mother, Erma, sued the trooper and Arizona, but a judge later tossed out the lawsuit.
Arizona state trooper who killed Dion Johnson says he feared for his life
The Arizona DPS trooper said he feared he would lose control of his gun if Johnson did not let go of his arm, so he shot Johnson in the torso, killing him. Records show George Cervantes received an 80-hour suspension in 2013 for a series of violations of policy.
What they're saying:
On Monday, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled Erma must pay the state just over $350,000 for its legal fees accrued from the case.
The state had asked for more than $800,000.