California Family Sues Law Enforcement After Teen is Brutally Beaten During Arrest
Devin Carter, 17, sustained bruises to both of his eyes, and scratches on his face and back. Photo by Ira L. Black
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, states Carter was en route to his father’s home on December 30, 2020 when officers started trailing behind him, according to NBC News. Stockton police allege Carter was driving “erratically and speeding in excess of 100 mph.” Carter, 17, claims he was unaware that police were trailing behind him and attempting to pull him over.
The police department says the teen turned off his headlights and led them on a three-minute pursuit. The lawsuit alleges Carter finally stopped at some point, and he waited in his car with his hands visible. That’s when, according to Carter, he was allegedly pulled from his vehicle and slammed to the ground. The teen sustained bruises to both of his eyes, and scratches were found on his face and back.�
Cheers and Jeers
The Stockton Police Department was right to terminate two officers involved in a “particularly egregious” beating of a teen, a move that came relatively swiftly compared to past use-of-force cases in the city, warranting a somewhat muted cheer as the department continues to build on transparency efforts.
Lincoln High School senior Devin Carter, 17, was injured Dec. 30 after a short vehicle pursuit when the officers stomped on his face and back and repeatedly said “stop resisting” while they beat him as he covered his head and curled into a fetal position, his father and attorney said at a news conference in January. The Police Department announced Tuesday that it had “separated” with Officers Michael Stiles and Omar Villapudua.
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A mass vaccination site at Stockton Arena did not open as planned on Tuesday after health care providers did not receive the anticipated supply of vaccines from the state, Kaiser Permanente said Sunday.
The Stockton mass vaccination hub, which was to be operated by Kaiser and a consortium of health care partners, was delayed until the necessary COVID-19 vaccine is available. Kaiser says it learned late last week that the state did not receive enough vaccine supply to provide it for the Stockton hub.
California family files lawsuit after officers allegedly beat Black teen
Devin Carter suffered bruises on both eyes and scratches to his face
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The family of a Black teen has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Stockton, California and four police officers who “viciously beat” the teen during a 2020 arrest, according to
Michael Stiles and Omar Villapudua. All four officers involved in the incident are under criminal investigation by the District Attorney.
Images released by Carter’s attorney show the extent of his injuries. Courtesy Law Offices of John Burris. (via NBC News)
The officers reportedly punched and kicked Carter in his face and back while yelling out profanities.
Saturday, some 50 protesters gathered in downtown Stockton to protest police brutality, marching from the Stockton Police Department down El Dorado Street on their way to City Hall, where Burris was preparing to hold a news conference.
Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said the case has been turned over to the San Joaquin County District Attorney s Office for review. District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar said her office is proceeding with its own independent investigation to determine if criminal charges should be brought against the officers who were fired, identified by police as Michael Stiles and Omar Villapudua.
Both officers served on the department s Community Response Team, police said. Stiles was hired by the department in 2018 and Villapudua in 2016.