Ricardo Mason

Deadly force

Two patrolmen were chasing a stolen car when the driver crashed near West 85th Street. The officers parked their cruiser behind the stolen car and approached. But the driver threw the car into reverse and pinned Patrolman Robert Taylor, who fired into the stolen car, striking passenger Ricardo Mason, 16, in the back and killing him. Patrolman Matthew Baeppler also fired his gun, striking the driver, Malcolm Hoyle, 16, in the face. A grand jury declined to indict the officers, but the city paid $1 million to settle a federal wrongful death suit brought by Mason's mother. Hoyle recovered from his injuries and was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Ricardo'€s death.