All articles tagged with #excessive force
The family of David Malito, who died in police custody at a Joliet gas station after an encounter caught on bodycam, has filed a lawsuit accusing officers of excessive force, despite the Will County state's attorney clearing them of wrongdoing. The incident, which involved Malito struggling with police and dying from an overdose, occurred shortly after a report highlighting a pattern of excessive force by Joliet police.
A federal judge criticized Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino for violating orders to limit the use of riot-control weapons during Chicago protests, citing incidents of tear gas and excessive force against peaceful protesters and children, and demanded daily reports from him as investigations continue into the agents' conduct.
A federal judge ended over a decade of federal oversight of the Seattle Police Department, citing significant improvements in officer accountability, use-of-force policies, and community relations since the implementation of reforms following allegations of excessive force and racial bias.
Brandon Hill was injured and detained after a peaceful protest crossing the Roebling Suspension Bridge in Covington, Kentucky, which led to a confrontation with police involving allegations of excessive force. Hill claims he was trying to avoid being shot and was not armed, while police say he attempted to disarm an officer. The incident is under investigation, and the officer involved has been placed on administrative duty.
A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit to proceed against Seattle police officers involved in the 2019 shooting of Ryan Smith, who was killed after a mental health crisis. The case challenges the officers' use of deadly force and the police department's handling of Smith's mental health issues, with the trial scheduled for September. The ruling marks a shift in legal attitudes towards police accountability and qualified immunity.
A U.S. Department of Justice investigation has found that the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, following the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop. The report highlights systemic issues, including the use of traffic stops to address crime and a lack of oversight, leading to rights violations disproportionately affecting Black residents. The city of Memphis has resisted federal oversight until it can review the findings, while the involved officers face legal consequences.
The U.S. Justice Department has found that the Memphis Police Department engaged in excessive force and discriminatory practices against Black residents. This investigation highlights systemic issues within the department, raising concerns about civil rights violations and prompting calls for reform.
A jury has awarded $98 million to the family of Botham Jean, a Dallas man fatally shot in his home by former police officer Amber Guyger, who was found to have used excessive force. The verdict includes $60 million in punitive damages and $38 million in compensatory damages. The case highlighted issues of racial bias and police accountability, with the jury condemning Guyger's actions as malicious and reckless. Guyger, who was convicted of murder in 2018, did not attend the civil trial or have legal representation.
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is accused in a new federal lawsuit of using excessive force by kneeling on a woman's back during an arrest in January 2020, months before the fatal incident involving George Floyd. The lawsuit alleges Chauvin and his partner, Ellen Jensen, violently removed Patty Day from her car, causing injuries, and failed to report their use of force. The complaint highlights a pattern of misconduct by Chauvin and claims the Minneapolis Police Department ignored such behavior, contributing to systemic issues of excessive force and racial discrimination.
Chicago police fired nearly 100 shots at a 26-year-old man during a traffic stop, killing him and injuring an officer, with bodycam footage raising questions about excessive force. While the driver reportedly fired first, his family and attorneys question the officers' response to a seat belt violation, as multiple agencies investigate whether the officers' actions were justified. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is reviewing the incident, and it remains unclear if the officers involved will face criminal charges.
Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 rounds at Dexter Reed, a Black man, during a traffic stop for a seatbelt violation, killing him. The police watchdog agency questions the validity of the stop and the officers' use of deadly force. The released bodycam footage shows Reed resisting, firing at officers, and then being shot 96 times in 41 seconds. The family's attorneys allege the shooting was disproportionate and unconstitutional, while city officials express concern but have not indicated charges against the officers.
The Summerville Police released edited bodycam footage of the arrest of a 13-year-old boy, prompting the family's attorney to criticize the selective editing and call for a comprehensive investigation into the officers' conduct. The attorney alleges that the officer acted as the initial aggressor and used excessive force, leading to physical and emotional harm to the minor. The incident, which occurred at a Walmart, has sparked concerns about over-policing and the treatment of rose vendors in the community. The attorney also raised questions about the officers' past violations and called for accountability and a reevaluation of policing policies.
Diddy's ex-partner, Misa Hylton, criticized Homeland Security for using "excessive" force during raids on the rapper's properties, sharing edited security footage of the encounters. The raids are part of an ongoing federal investigation, reportedly related to human trafficking. Diddy has faced multiple lawsuits alleging serious sexual misconduct, which he and his lawyer have vehemently denied, calling the raids a "witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits."
Misa Hylton, ex-partner of Diddy, is threatening legal action over the "excessive" force used by law enforcement officials during a raid on Diddy's Los Angeles home, which involved their sons Justin and Christian Combs. Hylton posted edited surveillance footage on Instagram, expressing outrage at the treatment of her sons, and has hired an attorney to investigate the incident. The raid was part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation, and both Diddy and his lawyer have criticized the use of force, maintaining his innocence.
Misa Hylton, celebrity stylist and ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs, posted video footage of a recent raid on Combs' Los Angeles home, showing his sons Justin and Christian being detained by armed agents. Hylton criticized the excessive force used, alleging that if they were not Black, they would not have been handled with the same aggression. The raids were carried out by Homeland Security under a warrant issued by the Southern District of New York, and are tied to a federal sex trafficking investigation. Combs' attorney has condemned the searches, stating that there has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of the allegations against Combs.