Hammond police settle lawsuit accusing officers of excessive force

Hammond police settle lawsuit accusing officers of excessive force
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Hammond police settled a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday accusing officers of using excessive force while arresting an unarmed Black man, according to the ACLU of Louisiana.

“We’re hopeful that every law enforcement officer in Louisiana will view this lawsuit as a sign that civilian complaints about police violence must be taken seriously,” said ACLU of Louisiana Justice Lab staff attorney Bridget Wheeler. “We are pleased to take a small but significant step in that direction.”

In a statement, Hammond City Attorney Andre Coudrain said the city was “fully prepared to defend” the officers’ actions, which “we believe were reasonable under the circumstances.”

“However, after a mediation with the federal magistrate judge and consultation with the city’s insurers, we are pleased to resolve this claim in an amicable manner and without further expense to the city,” Coudrain said.

The lawsuit said that Timothy Watkins, 45, called Hammond police on April 30, 2020 about a landscaper shattering Watkins’ windshield. Six officers arrived, five of whom began chatting with the landscaper. The other, Officer Anthony Fox, began questioning Watkins about whether he had stolen from a nearby grocery store instead of about the windshield.

Fox showed Watkins a photograph of him in the store, where he was accused of stealing two bottles of tequila, according to the lawsuit. Watkins didn’t respond, and Fox grabbed Watkins’ arm and pushed him against the car to arrest him.

“Put your hands behind your back, you’re f****** going to jail,” Fox allegedly told Watkins, the lawsuit states.

Watkins did not resist, but asked the officer to handcuff him with his hands in front of his body because he had severe sciatica and could be injured if handcuffed from behind, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit alleges Fox ignored the request, and Watkins “immediately felt severe pain radiate through his back and legs.” Fox also allegedly arrested Watkins without informing him of his charges or reading him his rights. The other five officers did not intervene.

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Mary founded Scoop Tour with an aim to bring relevant and unaltered news to the general public with a specific view point for each story catered by the team. She is a proficient journalist who holds a reputable portfolio with proficiency in content analysis and research. With ample knowledge about the Automobile industry, she also contributes her knowledge for the Automobile section of the website.

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