Suit tossed in incident that led to Norfolk shooting

NORFOLK

A judge Friday dismissed a suit against an officer accused of false imprisonment in the aftermath of the accidental shooting death of Seneca Darden.

Judge John C. Morrison struck the evidence against Norfolk police Sgt. C.E. Bryant in a suit brought by Philip Harvey, a Norfolk man involved in the 2006 incident that led to Darden's death.

"The court felt that Detective Bryant had not done anything wrong," said Wayne Ringer, chief deputy city attorney.

In the suit, Harvey says Bryant, then a detective, improperly questioned Harvey about the shooting for 12 hours.

Darden, an officer dressed in civilian clothes, was holding Harvey's brother, Denardo Harvey, at gunpoint when several uniformed officers arrived at a courtyard in Young Terrace. Darden was mistakenly shot by another officer. Philip Harvey was also at the scene.

Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2341, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com