SWAT Team Shoots Compliant Disabled Man Jason Kloepfer in Murphy, NC: $10 Million Settlement Exposes Police Cover-Up
On December 13, 2022, Jason Harley Kloepfer, a 41-year-old disabled man, was shot multiple times by a SWAT team while fully complying with police orders at his Murphy, North Carolina home. The incident, captured on Kloepfer’s own surveillance camera, exposed a web of police misconduct, false statements, and institutional cover-ups that ultimately resulted in a $10 million settlement and ongoing federal litigation.
The Fatal Night: Emily Floyd’s 911 Call Triggers SWAT Response
The chain of events began when neighbor Emily Floyd called 911, reporting what she described as fireworks, loud arguments, and possible gunshots from Jason Kloepfer’s trailer. Floyd claimed Kloepfer might be threatening his wife, Alison “Ali” Mahler, and suggested a possible hostage situation to dispatchers.
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies responded but failed to make contact with Kloepfer. Rather than conducting further investigation, they sought a search warrant based on Floyd’s unverified claims.
Lieutenant Milton Teasdale’s Misleading Search Warrant
At 2:15 AM on December 13, CCSO investigator Lieutenant Milton “Sport” Teasdale obtained a search warrant by allegedly misrepresenting the situation to authorities. According to later sworn testimony from District Attorney Ashley Welch, Teasdale falsely portrayed the incident as a hostage crisis and claimed Kloepfer was armed—despite having no evidence to support either assertion.
Without a formal mutual aid agreement in place, CCSO contacted the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Police Department SWAT Team, coordinated by Lieutenant Detective Roger Neadeau Jr. SWAT officers Nathan Messer, Neil Ferguson, and Chris Harris were deployed to Kloepfer’s residence, where they deployed a robotic surveillance device with camera and microphone into the trailer.
Surveillance Video Contradicts Police Account
At approximately 4:54 AM, officers used loudspeakers to order Kloepfer to exit his home with hands visible. Surveillance footage from inside Kloepfer’s trailer reveals the shocking truth of what happened next.
The video shows Kloepfer fully complying with police orders. He opens the door with both hands raised—one holding a cigarette, the other holding the police robot that had been thrown into his home. His wife Ali stands behind him in the doorway, also with hands raised to show compliance.
Within seconds of Kloepfer stepping outside, SWAT officers opened fire, striking him multiple times in the chest and arm. Kloepfer collapsed instantly, screaming “I’m shot!” as Ali shouted in panic, “What the hell did you do?!”
Police Cover-Up Attempt: False Statements and Bogus Charges
As Kloepfer lay bleeding, officers stormed inside with weapons drawn, barking commands while ignoring his critical gunshot wounds for several moments. He was eventually transported to a hospital.
CCSO immediately issued a press release falsely claiming Kloepfer had “confronted officers” and was armed during the shooting—statements directly contradicted by the surveillance video. Kloepfer was charged with communicating threats and resisting officers, charges that would later be dropped in March 2023 when the video evidence surfaced publicly.
Federal Lawsuit Exposes Systematic Deception
In June 2023, Jason Kloepfer filed a comprehensive 195-page federal lawsuit against the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Band SWAT officers Nathan Messer, Neil Ferguson, Chris Harris, and other officials. The suit alleged excessive force, unlawful entry, false arrest, and conspiracy to violate civil rights.
District Attorney Ashley Welch provided a sworn affidavit confirming that Lieutenant Teasdale had misled both her office and the magistrate judge. Welch testified that there was no evidence of a hostage situation or that Kloepfer posed any threat, contradicting the justification used for the SWAT raid.
Prosecutor Declines Charges as New Secrecy Laws Emerge
In December 2023, special prosecutor Lance Sigmon declined to press criminal charges against any of the officers involved in the shooting. Around the same time, Eastern Band Chief Richard Sneed signed legislation sealing tribal police bodycam footage from public release unless ordered by a court—a move widely interpreted as an attempt to shield future misconduct from public scrutiny.
$10 Million Settlement Acknowledges Wrongdoing Without Accountability
February 2024 brought a $10 million settlement for Jason Kloepfer, split evenly between Cherokee County and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The settlement, paid through insurance funds, came with no admission of wrongdoing from either agency. Notably, none of the officers involved—including Nathan Messer, Neil Ferguson, Chris Harris, Lieutenant Milton Teasdale, or Lieutenant Detective Roger Neadeau Jr.—faced discipline or termination.
Ongoing Federal Case Promises Further Revelations
The case continues to develop in 2025. In March, new sworn statements were submitted to federal court, including additional testimony from District Attorney Ashley Welch confirming that Jason Kloepfer never posed a threat and that law enforcement officials misrepresented key facts to obtain the search warrant.
A broader civil trial focused on systemic misconduct and institutional failures within both the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian Police Department is scheduled for August 2025, with potential to expose deeper patterns of wrongdoing.
A System That Protects Police Over Citizens
The Jason Kloepfer shooting represents more than an isolated incident of police violence—it exemplifies systemic failures in law enforcement accountability. Despite clear video evidence of an unjustified shooting of a complying disabled man, no officers faced criminal charges or employment consequences.
The case reveals how easily the justice system can be manipulated through false police reports, misleading warrant applications, and post-incident cover-ups. Lieutenant Milton Teasdale’s alleged deception of prosecutors and judges, combined with the subsequent sealing of police footage, demonstrates how institutional protections shield officers from consequences even in cases of clear misconduct.
Jason Kloepfer followed every police command, posed no threat, and was shot multiple times in his own doorway. The $10 million settlement acknowledged the injustice but provided no accountability or transparency. Until systemic reforms address these institutional failures, similar tragedies remain inevitable.