Monell

Gerald and Alecia Wilcox v. City of Detroit et al

Submitted by Re'Neisha Stevenson on Tue, 12/06/2022 - 15:58

Plaintiff, Gerald Wilcox, 43, was arrested in his home in a quiet Detroit suburb by two Detroit Police Dep’t. officers looking for a Gerald Wilcox in his 20s who robbed a Family Dollar store in Detroit the previous day. The warrantless arrest, without consent or exigent circumstances, occurred in front of Wilcox’s wife and teenge son. Wilcox spent 15 days in the county jail before the Officer-in-Charge admitted that he learned the night of the arrest that the plaintiff was the wrong person. Charges were dismissed 6 weeks after the arrest when an eyewitness told the prosecutor that Mr.

Fields v. City of Chicago, et al.

Submitted by Re'Neisha Stevenson on Wed, 11/30/2022 - 14:28

Plaintiff was wrongfully convicted of a 1984 double homicide and sentenced to death, then re-tried and acquitted in 2009. Plaintiff alleged that Defendant Officers fabricated false eyewitness identifications and false inculpatory testimony from informants, and suppressed exculpatory evidence by burying it in a street file. Plaintiff alleged that the suppression of the street file was caused by the policies and practices of the City of Chicago. The Defendants contended that Plaintiff was guilty of the double homicide.

Estate of Heenan v. City of Madison

Submitted by Re'Neisha Stevenson on Wed, 11/30/2022 - 14:21

The City of Madison and its insurance company have agreed to pay $2.3 million to settle the civil rights claims of the family of Paul Heenan, the thirty-year old musician and recording engineer who was shot and killed by Madison Police Officer Stephen Heimsness, on November 9, 2012, after he mistook a neighbor’s Baldwin Street house for the one he had moved into a week earlier, prompting a 911 call.

Elroy Jones v City of Detroit

Submitted by Re'Neisha Stevenson on Wed, 11/30/2022 - 14:09

Plaintiff was arrested for a homicide in 2006, underwent two jury trials, was convicted and served 7 years of a life sentence before one of the perps of the original crime was picked up by the feds. He gave a proffer statement which led to a re-investigation of the homicide by the feds and one lamplighter LEO, where it was discovered that 2 police reports containing exculpatory information for Plaintiff and INCULPATING the true killer were removed from the homicide file. After motion for new trial, prosecutor dismissed in 2014.

Chase Hammer v City of Salem, et al.

Submitted by Re'Neisha Stevenson on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 12:51

Salem Police responded to a call for a welfare check on Chase, a-27-year old Black male, reporting he was suicidal, under the influence of Xanax, and in possession of his father’s gun. When police arrived on scene, he was not there. Over an hour later, after dark, Chase approached, walking slowly and calmly up the street. Officers testified that Chase was holding a revolver, upside down and by the butt, as he approached. The officers shined their lights at him and officers simultaneously shouted different commands at him.

Celinda Kaye v. Robert Kramer and the City of Taunton

Submitted by Re'Neisha Stevenson on Thu, 11/17/2022 - 09:11

On August 24, 2007, Kramer beat and kicked Ms. Kaye, causing multiple facial fractures, two broken ribs, among other injuries. Kramer was enraged that Ms. Kaye had not immediately complied with his unlawful order to shut her mouth and go back inside as she stood at her front door observing Kramer and other officers making an arrest in front of her home. Taunton Police Chief Raymond O’Berg has publicly complained about his inability to investigate wrongdoings within his department. As a result, officers believe that they are free to violate citizens’ rights with impunity.

Brenda Wernikoff v. Loletha Graham-Smith, Margaretta Collins, Vanessa Ellis, Edward Flemming, Frank Chiola, John Does 1 - 5, and the City of Boston

Submitted by Howard Friedman on Sun, 11/13/2022 - 22:47

On May 19, 2010, Boston police officers arrested Ms. Wernikoff, a male-to-female transgender woman, because she was using the women’s bathroom at a homeless shelter. Ms. Wernikoff’s use of the bathroom based on her gender identity was entirely appropriate, as both BPHC policy and a Boston city ordinance make clear. Officers took Ms. Wernikoff to the police station, where male officers including forced her to remove her shirt and bra, exposing her breasts, and to jump up and down, causing her breasts to jiggle. The officers laughed at Ms. Wernikoff. She felt humiliated and degraded.

Bartolo Torres Zavala v. City of Hopkins and Mark Kyllo

Submitted by Tim Phillips on Sun, 11/13/2022 - 22:22

Following a report of child sexual abuse, Officer Kyllo inaccurately identified the suspect as plaintiff, even though he interviewed the actual suspect twice in jail. Kyllo filed a false affidavit in the form of a statement of probable cause, seeking a warrant for the arrest of plaintiff. A judge signed a warrant for plaintiff’s arrest, plaintiff was arrested and held in jail for two days, and plaintiff fought a criminal sexual conduct charge for a month until it was dismissed.

Babbitt v. City of San Leandro

Submitted by Fulvio Francis… on Sun, 11/13/2022 - 21:45

Plaintiff, an African American 50 year-old, was sitting in his vehicle when approached by police about an open alcohol container in a parking lot. Plaintiff denied knowing anything about it and refused to allow a search of his vehicle. Plaintiff was placed in a chokehold and arrested. Toxicology revealed no alcohol in his system. Defendants City of San Leandro and Officer Michael Olivera settled prior to filing any motions.

Alice Swiridowsky-Muckle v. Siopes et. al.

Submitted by Howard Friedman on Tue, 09/27/2022 - 14:38

On January 13, 2013, Alyssa was arrested. She was unconscious when police officers carried her into a cell. Police should know alcohol intoxication can cause death. The officers did not have Alyssa evaluated and when an officer checked on her later that night, she had died of alcohol poisoning. Her life could have been saved by prompt medical treatment. Video from the station documented the actions of the police officers. Alyssa’s only heir at law was her estranged husband who was incarcerated when the incident took place.