The City of San Diego will pay $8 million to resolve a lawsuit brought by a man who was struck by an SUV while being handcuffed by a San Diego Police Officer in the middle of Rosecrans Street.
The man suffered life-altering injuries, necessitating full-time medical care, following the incident on February 28, 2019. The events unfolded when the police responded to a vandalism report inside a 7-11 convenience store on Rosecrans near Midway Drive just before 5:00 AM.
According to court records, the man crossed the street upon police arrival. While walking across the road, a San Diego Police Officer grabbed the man's wrist and placed him on the ground in the midst of the busy Rosecrans Street. Shortly after, an SUV traveling on Rosecrans collided with the man.
The impact resulted in severe injuries, including multiple fractures, internal bleeding, organ damage, and internal decapitation, a condition where the brain stem is separated from the spinal cord. The lawsuit revealed that the man's medical team had deliberated whether to remove him from life support. Although he experienced a slight recovery, he still requires round-the-clock medical attention.
In October 2020, the man and his caregiver filed a lawsuit against the city of San Diego and the police officer, citing excessive use of force, civil rights violations, unreasonable search and seizures, among other allegations.
As the trial approached, the man's legal representatives, the city, and the city's external legal team agreed to a settlement of $8 million. San Diego city council members approved this settlement during a meeting on October 17.
