Elliott County, Kentucky, October 17, 2025
News Summary
Mark Eldridge of Elliott County has secured a $270,000 settlement following a critical incident where he was mistakenly shot by state police. The January misfire occurred due to a dispatcher error directing officers to the wrong address during a domestic dispute call. Eldridge, believing he was facing an intruder, was shot multiple times but returned fire without knowledge of the officers’ identity. The case has sparked discussions on emergency response protocols and training.
West Liberty, Kentucky – Mark Eldridge, a man from Elliott County, has received a $270,000 financial settlement after he was mistakenly shot by Kentucky State Police (KSP) troopers at his home. The incident occurred on January 1, 2023, when a 911 dispatcher sent officers to the wrong address due to an error in handling a domestic dispute call.
The erroneous dispatch stemmed from a 911 call reporting a gun-related domestic dispute involving two children, but the dispatcher, Johnny Boggs, confused the address. Instead of sending officers to the correct location, he directed them to Eldridge’s residence on the 200 block of B. Ison Road, approximately 10 miles away from the scene of the reported incident.
When the KSP troopers arrived at Eldridge’s home, they did not engage their lights or sirens and parked around 150 feet from his front door. Eldridge, who was home alone enjoying dinner, perceived the noises at his door as a potential break-in. Unaware of the officers’ presence, he armed himself with a handgun and opened the door only to be blinded by strong lights.
In a critical misstep, the officers failed to announce themselves as law enforcement before confronting Eldridge. The result was confusion leading to life-threatening consequences; upon opening the door, Eldridge was shot two times by the troopers who utilized high-velocity semi-automatic weapons. During the exchange of gunfire, Eldridge returned fire without knowing he was facing police, fortunately leading to no injuries among the officers.
Following the incident, Eldridge filed a lawsuit against a number of parties, including the dispatcher, local officials from the Elliott County Fiscal Court, and several KSP troopers involved in the shooting—Johnson McGraw, Jacob Williams, and Ethan Crouch.
The settlement reached with Elliott County will see the county paying $250,000, while the KSP will contribute an additional $20,000. Eldridge’s attorney characterized the outcome as fair for all parties involved, and the attorney representing KSP acknowledged the merit of the settlement given the challenging circumstances surrounding the incident.
After being shot, Eldridge was rushed to Morgan County Hospital where he faced life-threatening injuries due to extensive bleeding. He had sustained gunshot wounds to both forearms and required five surgeries during an 18-day hospital stay at the University of Kentucky Hospital. Currently, he experiences partial numbness in his left arm along with limited function in his left wrist, describing his condition as “the claw.”
The case has raised significant concerns regarding the protocols of emergency dispatch and law enforcement procedures during high-stakes situations. Questions surrounding the training of dispatchers and officers when dealing with emergency calls remain at the forefront of discussions following this traumatic incident.
As this incident comes to a close with a financial settlement, it also opens up dialogue regarding the need for more rigorous training and communication protocols within emergency response systems to prevent such costly and dangerous errors in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What led to the shooting of Mark Eldridge?
A mistake made by a 911 dispatcher sent KSP troopers to the wrong address during a call for a domestic dispute. - What was the outcome of the lawsuit filed by Eldridge?
Eldridge received a $270,000 settlement from Elliott County and the Kentucky State Police. - What injuries did Eldridge sustain?
Eldridge suffered gunshot wounds to both forearms and requires ongoing treatment for partial numbness and limited wrist function. - What protocols are being questioned as a result of this incident?
Concerns have been raised regarding the training of dispatchers and law enforcement during emergency situations.
Key Features of the Incident
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Settlement Amount | $270,000 |
| Dispatch Error | Wrong address sent by 911 dispatcher Johnny Boggs |
| Location of Incident | 200 Block of B. Ison Road, Elliott County |
| Shooting Date | January 1, 2023 |
| Injuries Sustained | Gunshot wounds to forearms; ongoing symptoms |
| Legal Parties Involved | KSP, Elliott County, Johnny Boggs |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Six Men Indicted in Targeted Assassination of Federal Witness
Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com: Shooting Incident
- Wikipedia: Police Brutality
- WYMT: State Auditor Investigation
- Google Search: Elliott County Emergency Response Protocol
- Legacy.com: Janice Carter Wagoner Obituary
- Google Scholar: Emergency Dispatch Training
- Spectrum News: Elliott County Emergency Facility
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Emergency Dispatch
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