Robert Dotson’s family received $6 million to settle claims against Farmington and three officers after he was killed at home in April 2023. The officers had gone to the wrong address; the settlement includes no admission of liability.
The call was for 5308 Valley View Avenue on April 5, 2023, but officers went to 5305. A federal ruling said a patrol-car terminal placed the destination on the wrong side of the street, while Google Maps showed the right address; one officer questioned the route but deferred to a senior colleague. Dotson opened the door with a handgun and raised it toward officers, who shot him 12 times. His wife later fired toward officers but was not hit.
The New Mexico Department of Justice concluded in January 2024 that criminal charges against the officers could not be sustained, while stating its review did not decide civil or disciplinary liability. In May 2025, a federal judge granted the officers qualified immunity on the estate’s Fourth Amendment claim, describing their approach to the wrong house as negligent but not reckless and finding deadly force objectively reasonable once Dotson raised his gun. The settlement documents say the family released the city and officers from further claims; the city attorney said Travelers Insurance provided the payment.
