The Family of Robert Dotson Announce Plans to Sue City Over Shooting

Attorney Shon Northam says he will make a request for San Juan District Attorney Robert Tedrow and New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez to bring criminal charges of 2nd Degree Murder against the officers involved in the case. A second attorney hired by the family, Mark Reichel, is requesting the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico to bring federal charges against the officers involved for federal civil rights violations.

At a press conference Thursday, Dotson family attorney Shon Northam announced plans to sue the city over the officer-involved shooting on April 5, 2023 that resulted in the death of Robert "Robbie" Dotson at his home at 5305 Valley View in Farmington.  The address is significant because officers were called to 5308 Valley View for a reported case of domestic violence, but responded to the Dotson address.  The ensuing incident is currently under investigation by New Mexico State Police and the three Farmington Police Officers involved have been placed on administrative leave.  The officers have yet to be identified by Farmingtion Police.

Today, Northam pointed out sections of the officer's bodycam footage that seems to show they knew they were at the wrong address before the shooting took place.  He alleges this latest incident is part of a pattern:  "For quite some time the residents of Farmington have been keenly aware of the wild use of force by the Farmington Police Department, with no accountability or justice provided for the victims. We demand that changes. We want what happened to Robbie to also result in a better community for everyone in Farmington,” said attorney Shon Northam. The legal team will discuss their investigation and plans for a lawsuit for damages against all responsible for this tragedy. Also, “We are calling for the resignation of the Police Chief based on the obvious malfeasance in running the department. We also demand the City Council investigate the extensive amount of excessive force claims against the Police Department, and in fact, corruption within the department to cover up their constant malfeasance,” said Northam.

Northam says he will make a request for San Juan District Attorney Robert Tedrow and New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez to bring criminal charges of 2nd Degree Murder against the officers involved in the case. A second attorney hired by the family, Mark Reichel, is requesting the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico to bring federal charges against the officers involved for federal civil rights violations.

Both attorneys for the Dotson family are from northern California.

Farmington Police Department related this statement "The Farmington Police Department wants to emphasize that the events of April 5 are part of an ongoing investigation. Our department is committed to cooperating with the New Mexico State Police for a thorough and fair investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Dotson’s death. It is important to let the legal process take its course and not draw conclusions before all the facts are known. We will continue to cooperate with the appropriate agencies and provide updates to the public as the investigation progresses. We will continue to work with transparency and integrity."

The press release from the Dotson family's legal team is attached below: