Due to a federal civil rights lawsuit the city of Seattle
will have to pay one family $1.75 million. The lawsuit was filed by the father
of a mentally ill man who was mistreated by the Seattle police. The man suffered
severe head trauma as the police held him down, made him choke on his own vomit
and blood and handcuffed and gagged him. The settlement is one of the largest
the city has ever paid for excessive-force claims. The second largest
settlement was $1.5 million that was given because a police officer fatally
shot another man.
The accident occurred when the parents of the mentally ill
man called police. The schizophrenic man was having a mental break down so his
parents called police officers in order to calm him down. However, the officers
decided to arrest him due to an outstanding misdemeanor warrant that the man
had. According to officers, the man was cooperative. When the officers grabbed
the man, however, a brawl ensued and several officers arrived to get a hold of
the man.
The 45 year-old mentally ill man suffered severe injuries
from police. He was elbowed in the face, tased twice, and handcuffed. The
police officers even placed a mesh over his head to prevent getting bodily
fluids on the officers. At one point, several officers held him face-down onto
the floor to the extent that the mesh filled with blood and vomit. According to
the family’s attorney, several officers knelt on the man’s chest making it
impossible for him to breathe.
Witnesses at the scene said that the police officers’
actions were very excessive. One even said that the officers threw him face
down on a backboard. It is estimated that after 20 minutes of the struggle, the
man stopped breathing. He was hospitalized for several weeks at a nearby
medical center.
Speak to a Personal
Injury Attorney
According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s reports, the
police department often used excessive force when handling mentally ill or
intoxicated individuals. If you suffered excessive force or injury from a
police officer, security guard, or any individual, you should consult with an
experienced personal injury attorney immediately. You may be entitled to a
settlement for your pain and suffering. Contact us today.
