A financial award was recently decided with the conclusion of a lawsuit involving a Dupo police officer who was injured following a shootout early last year.

On July 17, Sgt. Patrick Carrier of the Dupo Police Department was awarded a potential total of $3.67 million from the estate of Reginald Allen for physical and emotional harm inflicted by Allen during an altercation on Feb. 26, 2023.

On that day, Carrier confronted Allen shortly after Allen had shot and killed Darryl T. Mantz in the 400 block of McBride Avenue in Dupo.

Armed with an AR-15 and driving a Bobcat construction vehicle after shooting Mantz, Allen abandoned the vehicle and was walking along McBride Avenue toward his residence when Carrier arrived on the scene after several witnesses reported the shooting.

As Carrier approached, Allen shot him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground and incapacitating him before shooting a second time.

In the hours that followed, a police perimeter was established around Allen’s residence, with officers ultimately entering the home about 10:30 p.m.

Allen was found deceased in a detached garage on the property, appearing to have taken his own life using his rifle.

Carrier was rushed to Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County, where he underwent two surgeries for his wounds.

He has since been undergoing physical therapy and returned to the Dupo Police Department earlier this year.

According to attorney Matthew Chapman of Becker, Schroader & Chapman, who served as Carrier’s legal representation, a lawsuit against Allen’s estate was filed Sept. 21, 2023, after Carrier had heard rumors concerning the sale of several properties potentially owned by Allen.

“It was always in the back of our minds to pursue all avenues of potential recovery for Patrick,” Chapman said.

A summary judgment was granted May 7 establishing there was no issue of fact over the shooting, and a bench trial took place July 17 in order to determine damages and the award Carrier would be entitled to.

In a press release announcing the verdict and in a later interview with the Republic-Times, Chapman noted the hearing was quite emotional.

He further explained that, as part of the summary judgment hearing, the dash cam video footage and audio of the shooting were provided as evidence, with part of the audio depicting Carrier pleading with Allen after he had been shot.

“The video does not show Sgt. Carrier, but it shows Reginald Allen, and it shows him shooting the first shot,” Chapman said. “The judge listened and even commented at the hearing that this is gonna be something that’s gonna stick with him for a while.”

Carrier also spoke with the Republic-Times and briefly recalled the testimony he provided during the hearing.

The sergeant described how he was aware of everything happening during the incident and stressed that, while he was on the ground, he thought mainly of his family and the possibility of not being there for them anymore.

“It got a little emotional for me when I was talking about laying there on the ground after being shot,” Carrier said. “I was thinking about my wife and my kids and my grandkids. A lot of stuff was just racing through my mind at the time. My youngest daughter was going to get married that October of 2023, and I just kept thinking that I wasn’t gonna be there to walk her down the aisle.”

Judge Christopher Kolker ultimately awarded Carrier $3.67 million in damages, with $1 million awarded for past pain and suffering, $500,000 for future pain and suffering, $1 million for emotional distress, $1 million for loss of normal life, $100,000 for disfigurement and $74,602.89 for lost wages.

Regarding the loss of wages, Chapman explained Carrier received some benefits during his time away from the police department due to the Public Employee Disability Act, but Allen’s estate is still accountable for the loss of those wages. Some of Carrier’s potential award, then, would be expected to reimburse the payor of Carrier’s benefits – either workers comp or PEDA.

Concerning the $3.67 million award, Chapman said a full assessment of Allen’s assets is in process, though it is unlikely Carrier will receive full compensation.

“We have information from the estate’s council that there are funds in the estate that we will be able to attach with this judgment,” Chapman said. “Will it come close to the award? Likely not.”

Chapman offered a further summary of the lawsuit’s verdict.

“In our view, Allen owes Patrick a debt, and we intend to make sure that, since he took the easy way out by committing suicide after these events, we intend to investigate and collect this judgement to the full extent possible under the law, whether that means chasing down properties in Illinois or Missouri,” Chapman said. “We just don’t think it’s right that his estate could benefit to the exclusion of Patrick.”

Carrier is currently still recovering through physical therapy and is anticipating an additional surgery to address the pain he experiences as he tries to raise his arm above his shoulder. The surgery is not expected to expand his arm’s diminished range of motion.