Overview
- Baltimore’s Board of Estimates unanimously approved a $400,000 settlement for Devonte Jett on July 1, 2026, ending his federal lawsuit over being struck by a police SUV during a 2021 pursuit.
- Jett, who was 16 at the time, says the crash left him with lung and pelvis injuries, a likely concussion and lasting memory problems that he cited in the suit.
- City lawyers maintained the crash was a tragic accident caused when Jett stepped into the vehicle’s path, a claim the settlement does not resolve on the record.
- The lawsuit and public records requests point to gaps in body-worn camera footage and allege officers initially did not find a weapon, with a BB gun recovered about 15 minutes later.
- Disciplinary action against Sgt. Steven Reed related to the incident remains open and the city says a backlog of more than 800 police disciplinary cases has delayed final accountability, prompting officials to question procedural reforms.