A federal jury in downtown Los Angeles has awarded $13.5 million to the family of a man who passed away shortly after two Los Angeles police officers used their body weight to restrain him.
The jury's decision determined that the officers had employed excessive force, violating the man's constitutional rights. Additionally, the jury found that the city of Los Angeles had failed to provide adequate training to its officers.
The deceased man's daughter had filed a lawsuit against the city in 2020, citing civil rights violations, insufficient training, and other allegations. The trial concluded with the jury's verdict that the officers had indeed used excessive and unreasonable force. This judgment also included a finding that the city had not adequately trained its police officers on the risks associated with positional and restraint asphyxia, as stated by the lawyers involved.
Furthermore, bodycam footage of the incident, which occurred in April 2019, was released to the media. This video revealed officers approaching the man, handcuffing him as he sat in the driveway of a gas station in Van Nuys. The officers had suspected that the man was under the influence of an unknown drug. The situation escalated as the officers attempted to place him in a police car. According to the plaintiff's attorney, the officers brought the man to the ground and applied pressure for approximately 4 minutes and 20 seconds. Later, paramedics revived him, but he was placed in a prone position again for 2 minutes and 46 seconds, ultimately leading to his demise.
The daughter of the deceased expressed her gratitude for the jury's decision, holding the LAPD responsible for her father's death. She added that her father had been stripped of his dignity when he was killed.
When asked for a response, the LAPD declined to comment on the ongoing litigation or its outcome.
It's worth noting that the LAPD had previously found that the officers were not in violation of department rules, according to the plaintiffs.
