Elderly Black woman says police used excessive force during traffic stop. Theres a fear that even while doing our very best to follow the law and mind our business, we can come across an officer who fails to see our humanity or value our lives. They are flat. Read the full court filing by clicking here. Relatives & Associates. Lawsuit to be filed against police after Calif. man dies while being restrained by police. Chauvins conviction on Tuesday has renewed the push from Democrats for the Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a measure that could reshape law enforcement training in the United States. It's unclear how close police were to Bottom's vehicle before she pulled over, as the footage only shows the inside of the police vehicle and the sky. But she said women have made progress since, even in light of the scandal, in which members of an online group allegedly shared or commented on images of nude or semi-clad female Marines. The letter states, This week, we watched as a 2019 traffic stop video surfaced of officers from Rowan Countys Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department using excessive force to arrest Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year-old Black librarian from Atlanta.. Officers had their sirens on for at least 10 minutes, according to body camera footage that is cited in the lawsuit and was reviewed by CNN. How many more Black and brown people are going to be hurt and killed by the hands of officers, Miller said. The man had been shot twice. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. Whitney Peckman criticized local law enforcement for stating they want a good community relationship but choosing to gloss this over by hiding information about the incident until media reports. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, officers grabbed the by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground. Former Salisbury Police officer Devin Barkalow is accused of pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her hair. The arresting officers involved were identified as Salisbury police officers Adam Bouk and Devin Barkalow, Rowan County sheriff's deputy Mark Benfield, and a Highway Patrol trooper only . Officers Benfield, Barkalow, and Adam Bouk then forced her arms behind her back, tearing her rotator cuff. We know that North Carolina has really widespread and entrenched, pronounced racial disparities in terms of the way that black and white motorists are policed, he said. Officer Devin Barkalow then bragged about grabbing a "handful of dreads," and said "at that point she earned it," the lawsuit says, quoting the bodycam audio. An incident report states Benfield asked Bottom where her drivers license was located and that she told him it was in her purse on the passenger sides floorboard. One of the officers in the lawsuit, Devin Barkalow, declined to talk about the complaint. Prescription Drugs - Possess Prescription Drugs. "We were the first two officers there, we found the subject sitting in front of this house," Wilson said. An internal investigation is pending. Mr Benfield and another officer, Devin. Helping a Hero is a charity that builds specialized homes for injured service members. It was late August, Officer Wilson and Detective Devin Barkalow rushed to the 700 block of Second Street where they saw a man leaning up against the front door of a duplex. A Salisbury police officer involved in the stop bragged about grabbing a handful of dreads, and said at that point she earned it,' the lawsuit said, citing footage from the officers body camera. While state law allows people pictured in body camera videos to receive a copy, the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department are prevented from releasing the video without a court order. Bouk refused, while the three other officers ignored her pleas. Police say he got out of the car, ran, and was caught. Benfield, Bouk and Barkalow pinned her to the ground with their arms and knees on Bottoms back, the lawsuit alleges. The case status is Disposed - Other Disposed. Bottom is seeking a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages as well as court costs and attorneys fees. Barkalow, who was hired by the department in 2015, left the agency to take a position with federal law enforcement in February 2020, according to Linda McElroy, a spokeswoman for the city of. OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW. They determined Bottom needed to be hospitalized. "With each pump of his heart you could just see it coming out," Wilson added. According to a July 2020 report from the North Carolina Justice Analysis Review, Black motorists were stopped at a rate twice as high as white drivers in the Tar Heel State, and almost 1.5 times the rates of other races. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for North Carolinas Middle District by Stephanie Bottom of Atlanta, claims she posed no threat to officers from the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office when she was pulled over in May 2019. Barkalow remembers how female cadets were hazed and harassed back then. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office and the Salisbury Police Department were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Bottom, alleging she was driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone, according to the suit. He identified her on the radio as "an older Black female." A frustrated Barkalow called. So this was very disruptive to her life in many ways.. CNN has reached out to Rowan County Sheriff's Department for comment but has not yet heard back. She says she had her music turned up loudly and was listening to tunes as she made the journey. Then Benfield and Salisbury police officer Devin Barkalow have Bottom, then 66, face-down on the road and struggle to handcuff her. A spokesman for the city of Salisbury also declined to comment about the incident. Devin Barkalow is 36 years old, and lives in WI. Ummm dont think there are usually like a dozen police cars for a traffic stop obviously something else is going on here. State Representative - MICHAEL DEvIN Capitol Address: Home Address: House of Representatives 1 Hillcrest Rd. Her attorneys said she had to foot the bill for medical treatments, repairs to her SUV and was left to grapple with the emotional fallout of her encounter. He is a white male registered to vote in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Thats consistent with the incident report from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, which states that Rowan County Master Deputy Mark Benfield tried to stop Bottom around Julian Road. Like, theres got to be a better way to handle this. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Salisbury and Rowan County officers used excessive force. Bodycam footage showed he also said it was an exciting chase and commented that he was at the edge of his seat.. Black said he isnt hopeful that the demand will be fulfilled. devin barkalow waiver sent on 4/28/2021, answer due 6/28/2021. Those we have entrusted to keep us safe. Bottom said she was listening to music loudly in her car and did not realize she was being pulled over, according to the lawsuit. During the interaction, Cuthbertson swung his helmet, striking Officer B. W. Jones in the face. After Benfields initial attempt to pull Bottom over, a roughly 14-mile chase ensued and ended when law enforcement officers eventually flattening Bottoms tires in Davidson County, according to the incident report. They invoke such fear and distrust that we as a council have to think of a way in which we can respond, Heggins said. Stephanie Bottom was terror-stricken in the drivers seat of her SUV, trying not to move as three officers in Salisbury, N.C., held her at gunpoint during a traffic stop for speeding in May 2019. The officers then decided not to charge Bottom to avoid paying the cost of her hospital bills, her attorneys allege. A Westminster Police Department officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after cellphone video showed him punching a handcuffed woman twice in the face, CBS Los Angeles reports. Police say Sifford is facing multiple drug charges and was also charged with fleeing to elude arrest in a motor vehicle. Background Search . Authorities scoffed at her explanation, finding it hard to believe she didnt notice them for 10 miles. Bottom, an Atlanta librarian and grandmother of five, was driving to North Carolina for a relatives funeral when police stopped her vehicle after it was going 10 mph over the speed limit, according to a federal lawsuit she filed Wednesday. Bottom was not available for comment this week. The following alternative links are available: Note: this is a bot providing a directory service. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. Bottom was not driving recklessly, she didnt lead officers on a high-speed chase, and she never intentionally tried to elude them, her attorneys contend. Jacob Linn (1825-1878) was a gunsmith, business owner, Bexar County commissioner, landowner, and rancher. The car was stopped when they apprehended her. Among other things, the report states Bottom: failed to stop for blue lights and sirens for about 14 miles and through two counties, simply threw her hands into the air when a uniformed officer pulled along side of her and motioned for her to pull over.. This is a military officer and this is a woman, the two pictures are saying. It caused her a very significant injury that required surgery, that required her to spend time in the hospital. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office and the Salisbury Police Department were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Bottom, alleging she was driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone, according to the suit. The other officers named in the suit are Adam . I know that they leave their homes every shift not knowing if they will make it back safely., She continued, But this evening, I am an angry Black woman. . Bottoms lawsuit indicates Barkalow also aimed his weapon at her. She said she didnt realize the contingent of officers were after her. Youre going to jail now, the policeman responded. When police vehicles pulled behind her, Bottom continued driving for another 10 miles, oblivious, she says, to the fact that they were trying to stop her for speeding. "Why are you doing this. The company's filing status is listed as Organized and its File Number is B101474. Mike Colvin and Detective Devin Barkalow, are now on administrative duty. But she added the data showing Black and brown individuals are disproportionately subject to police violence cannot be overlooked. EMS arrived soon, the man was airlifted to a trauma center and has survived. Adam Bouk of the Salisbury Police Department placed a handcuff on Bottoms left hand and the right hand was cuffed with the assistance of two other officers, a sheriffs office narrative states. Gemale Black, president of the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP, said the letter was sent to both law enforcement agencies as well as Salisbury city council members and the Rowan County Board of Commissioners. "There is some good news with this, even though what they did was horrible," Barkalow . against her in a 2019 traffic stop, the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP is calling for accountability and transparency from local law enforcement agencies. 68-year-old woman claims she was thrown to the ground by police for speeding 13,595 views Apr 23, 2021 A 68-year-old librarian is suing the City of Salisbury and the Rowan County Sheriff's. The suit says Bottoms injuries required surgery that did not fully repair the shoulder and that she feared the police and did not want to pull over on the side of the interstate. Incident reports show the chase started around sunset on Thursday, May 30, 2019, when multiple agencies were running radar on Interstate 85. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. CHRISTIAN FERLAN Hall Booth Smith, P.C. "It means a lot, but at the same time it's not really necessary, I was just doing my job," Wilson said. shows Benfield, who approached the car initially with a weapon raised, pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by the arm. Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested.. He is expected to have his first court appearance Monday. And the departments did not seem inclined to take action to hold these officers accountable. According to the Observer, Barkalow said he no longer works for the Salisbury Police Department. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. ): Spencer D. Matthews, 39, Daytona Beach, habitual driving . SALISBURY Local residents expressed anger and called for transparency from city leaders and local law enforcement officers Tuesday regarding a 2019 traffic incident thats the center of a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force. What have I done wrong? Bottom cried out, growing increasingly incredulous. The incident report describes one point during the chase where Master Deputy M. Smith sped up beside Bottoms vehicle and saw her put her hand up in a manner that suggested she didnt care or was not sure what was going on.. In a statement to the media, the Salisbury Police Department said it was unable to comment on pending litigation but that it strives "for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where (police) may suspect criminal activity.". She was also charged with speeding and resisting arrest but those were dismissed. 2023001599. National and local news articles, relating to the United States. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Blotter: Man accused of armed robbery apprehended after short chase, Blotter: Victims in shooting discharged from hospitals, Monday morning car shooting leaves two hospitalized. I'm a diabetic and having high or low sugar around police is a scary thought. It was late August, Officer Wilson and Detective Devin Barkalow rushed to the 700 block of Second Street where they saw a man leaning up against the front door of a duplex. He identified her on the radio as an older Black female. A frustrated Barkalow called Bottom a fucking retard and a douche bag while chasing her in his squad car. Bottom said she was driving to Raleigh for a funeral in May 2019 when she was pulled over for speeding and failing to heed to blue lights. When Bottom didn't immediately pull over, one of the officers making the traffic stop identified in the lawsuit as Salisbury Police Officer Devin Barkalow made statements recorded by his body camera that Bottom was a "f**king retard" and a "douche bag," according to the body camera footage. There was no indication that local law enforcement agencies were going to take any action against these officers, Mance explained in an interview with Atlanta Black Star. But they approached her vehicle with guns drawn and later violated her rights by using excessive force, the lawsuit said. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. Mary Walker also denounced the incident depicted in body camera footage on behalf of Women for Community Justice. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman, said Ian Mance, a lawyer with EmancipateNC who represents Bottom. I know she did not apparently have medical issues but they should have checked her over first before slamming her to the ground. 2151 KEOKUK ST #14. CNN has reached out to Rowan County Sheriff's Department for comment but has not yet heard back. In a statement to the media, the Salisbury Police Department said it was unable to comment on pending litigation but that it strives "for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where (police) may suspect criminal activity.". Wed write you a ticket. Durham, NC 27707 Defendant Attorney NED A. STILES Attorney at STILES BYRUM & HORNE, LLP Some of those images can be seen immediately below: City attorney Graham Corriher said he will continue working with the citys communications department and City Manager Lane Bailey to deliver information about the incident that can be publicly disclosed. Officers issued Bottom a summons, charging her with "speeding failure to heed blue lights, and resisting, delaying, and obstructing an officer for allegedly refusing to get out of her vehicle and pulling away from the officer," according to the lawsuit. COUNTY JAIL DOCKET (The following people were booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on felony charges yet to be proven in court. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he "approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.". Two officers on administrative duty following pursuit of murder suspect, N.C. She is requesting a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages and the costs of court and attorney fees to be covered. Black said the Salisbury-Rowan NAACPs legal redress committee came together to craft the wording and demands made in the letter after analyzing the available camera footage of the incident. Cars are extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, and just in general. As for the other demands, Black said he thinks those could be delivered upon easily. Bottom is suing the city of Salisbury, two of the citys police officers and a Rowan County sheriffs deputy who were involved in the May 30, 2019 incident. Represented By. Bottom, now 68 years old, is a Black librarian. A March report from the review panel, which is part of the Governors Crime Commission, showed that Black drivers are also searched nearly twice the rate as white and Hispanics in North Carolina, and more than three times the rate of other races. In a statement to the media, the Salisbury Police Department said it was unable to comment on pending litigation but that it strives "for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where (police) may suspect criminal activity.". Another officer involved in the traffic stop, only identified as Officer Smith, pulled ahead of Bottom and deployed spike strips that immediately immobilized her vehicle, the lawsuit says. And theyre the ones we fear the most.. When she asked for medical assistance, she estimated that an hour elapsed before officers called for help, the lawsuit said. What have I done wrong? Saturday night. source code | run your own mirror bot? He said he was particularly struck by officers brutal treatment of an elderly woman who was unarmed and showed no signs of being violent. He is a white male registered to vote in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. She appeared in court for the traffic violations, pleaded responsible to failure to heed blue lights, and the other charges against her were dismissed, according to the lawsuit. The man was later identified as William Scott Kerr, Jr., 31. Librarian Sues Over How She Was Treated During Traffic Stop 847,182 views Apr 29, 2021 Body cam video of a 68-year-old Georgia librarian's encounter with police who handcuffed her on the side of. 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