The family of a man who died
three days after a struggle with Redding Police officers left him unconscious
is suing the city alleging police brutality.
The suit, filed in federal
court, alleges Redding Police brutally beat Steven Motley, 33, after he led officers
on a chase and stole a police cruiser. Carol Adams, Motley's mother, and his
daughter, identified only as L.M., are represented by Vicki Sarmiento, a
Sacramento attorney.
Motley led police on a chase
before stealing a police cruiser Oct. 5. A struggle with four officers in the
backyard of a home on Alta Saga Drive left him unconscious, and he died three
days later.
"As a result of the
excessive force by (Redding Police) officers, Steven Motley died,"
Sarmiento wrote.
Sarmiento writes that the
officers, whom she doesn't identify, "subjected him to excessive force,
including but not limited to, multiple strikes, kicks and blunt force trauma to
his head face and body. Officers also deployed their taser at (Motley) until he
was rendered unconscious."
She wrote that he suffered
multiple broken bones, brain hemorrhages and other injuries. She wrote that
Redding's practice of "inaction and cover-up encouraged officers of RPD,
including the defendants named herein, to believe that unjustified force and
denial of prompt medical care against individuals being detained was
permissible.
The police also failed to get
medical care quickly enough for Motley, Sarmiento wrote.
A coroner's report found Motley
died from a heart attack exacerbated by a toxic level of meth in his system.
The city last month rejected
three separate claims filed on behalf of Motley’s mother and two children.
The letters are dated Feb. 25,
almost six weeks after the claims were filed by Vicki Sarmiento, the Southern
California attorney representing Carol Adams, Motley’s mother, and Ashley
McCain, the mother of one of Motley’s children. The third claim was filed
Howard Churchill, the Redding attorney who represents Dawn Bianco, the mother
of Motley’s other child.
The city did not provide a
reason for rejecting the claims.
Shasta County Sheriff's
detectives have said Redding Police officer chased Motley Oct. 5 after spotting
him driving a pickup truck on Airport Road. Motley eventually crashed into a
wall and ran off, with an officer in pursuit. Motley then circled back and
stole the officer's cruiser.
He drove to Alta Saga Drive,
where he abandoned the squad car, detectives have said. They said an officer
tackled Motley to the ground, and then three other officers joined the
struggle.
He was taken to a hospital out
of the area, where he died three days later.
Motley's mother, Adams, has
said he was a victim of police brutality.
Sheriff's deputies are
investigating the matter.
Check back as we update this
story.
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