The suit alleges that in his official capacity he "approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.". Prison is state-sponsored violence. As she was handcuffed on the side of the road, the officers searched her vehicle and purse without her consent, a warrant, or probable cause which violated Bottoms Fourth Amendment rights, the lawsuit says. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman. WebThe woman, Stephanie Bottom of Atlanta, who is Black, said she was driving to a funeral and posing no threat to the officers when they stopped her on Interstate 85 for driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. Bottom then tells the officers she has a shoulder injury and is in pain while handcuffed, leading her to ask that the cuffs be removed. Bottom, an Atlanta librarian and grandmother of five, was driving to North Carolina for a relatives funeral when police stopped her vehicle after it was going 10 The post 68-year-old woman sues NC police for violent traffic stop recorded on body camera appeared first on TheGrio. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. I wasn't running. At no time did [the officers] request, nor did [Bottom] give, consent to search the vehicle and purse., The lawsuit also notes that Bottom is an elderly woman and that all of the officers involved in the arrest were aware of her general age based on their radio communications., It is difficult for [Bottom] to exit her vehicle quickly due to her age and medical condition, the lawsuit says. (Hicks, Samantha), Case ASSIGNED to JUDGE WILLIAM L. OSTEEN, JR and MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. She later had surgery for the injury, but it did not fully repair the shoulder, according to the lawsuit, and now there is permanent damage. A pirate at heart, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Political Science at East Carolina University. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- A University of North Carolina student used some area knowledge to advance in Jeopardy's High School Reunion Tournament. The second best result is Stephanie Marie Walls age 30s in Apex, NC. Show our community and nation that law enforcement who enforce the law, must also abide by the same law.. Please go to our website under Attorney Information for a list of mediators which must be served on all parties. Her lawsuit was immediately referred to mediation due to local court rules, according to Law & Crime. Unprofessional conduct, inappropriate comments, and excessive force use negatively impacts police-citizen relationships. The officers also say it could've been a simple traffic stop before putting the onus of the current incident on her. Bottom sued on Wednesday alleging two separate violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, assault and battery, and a local statutory violation against Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. WebFOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA Civil Action No. 8. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia. Browse Locations. The force applied by the officers caused Bottom's "shoulder to 'pop,' tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury," according to the lawsuit. One of the officers tells Bottom that three police cruisers had been behind her for about 10 miles trying to get her to pull over for allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone and failing to heed officers sirens. When she realized officers were following her, she tried to pull over 'somewhere safe where Id be around lights and people,' but she alleges spike strips were used to stop her car instead. In a statement to the media, the Salisbury Police Department said it was unable to comment on pending litigation but that it strives "for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where (police) may suspect criminal activity.". Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunt's funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes told CNN on Tuesday. 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The 68-year-old says initially did not realize that cops were trying to stop her, and that their aggressive actions when she pulled over left her with injuries including a tornrotator cuff. She was terrified, according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. Police officers then approached her with guns drawn and grabbed her by her arm and hair, pulling her out of her car and throwing her onto the ground. 'I was getting ready to die. We've received your submission. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, the officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground, according to body camera footage. She later had surgery for the injury, but it did not fully repair the shoulder, according to the lawsuit, and now there is permanent damage. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. When Bottoms didnt immediately pull over, one of the officers making the traffic stop identified in the lawsuit as Salisbury Police Officer Devin Barkalow made statements recorded by his body camera that Bottom was a f**king retard and a douche bag, according to the body camera footage. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office and the Salisbury Police Department were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Bottom, alleging she was driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone, according to the suit. Her requests for medical assistance were ignored even though she said she was in pain. 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She pleaded guilty to failure to heed blue lights and the other charges against her were dismissed. "Once it became clear they wanted her to pull over she was afraid and was looking for a safe place to pull over," Holmes told CNN in an email. The lawsuit alleges that earlier in the stop, Barkalow also said Bottom was a'f*****g retard' and a 'douche bag.'. In a federal lawsuit, a 68-year-old Black librarian is accusing North Carolina law enforcement officers of using excessive force against her during a traffic stop. Phone Number: In May 2019, a 68-year-old Black woman named Stephanie Bottom was pulled over by officers from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and the Salisbury Police Department. As an organization, we are dedicated to shifting the narrative on racialized mass incarceration through community education and mobilization. Once it became clear they wanted her to pull over she was afraid and was looking for a safe place to pull over, Holmes told CNN in an email. The lawsuit filed Wednesday by Stephanie Bottom of Atlanta says she posed no threat to officers from the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, the officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground, according to body camera footage. Bottom wasnt even arrested.. were aware of her general age based on their radio communications. Here's why. They have also lived in Willow Spring, NC and Raleigh, NC. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- A University of North Carolina student used some area knowledge to advance in Jeopardy's High School Reunion Tournament. An officer declined the request, but paramedics later took Bottom to a hospital, the Charlotte Observer reported. : 1:21cv322 STEPHANIE BOTTOM ) Plaintiff, ) Stephanie Bottom (hereinafter Plaintiff), is an African American librarian who While following behind Plaintiff, Defendant [Devin] Barkalow made statements recorded by his body camera that Plaintiff was a fucking retard and douche bag. He exclaimed that this was an exciting chase, and he was at the edge of my seat.. Bottom is suing Benfield, Barkalow and another Salisbury officer, claiming they used excessive force and tore her rotator cuff while pulling her out of the car, the newspaper reported Wednesday. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was pain, according to the lawsuit. Stephanie Bottom. 2023 Cable News Network. Bottom said all of the arresting officers were white. I did nothing wrong.. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman, said Ian Mance, a lawyer with EmancipateNC who is representing Bottom, according to CBS News. DEPUTY MARK BENFIELD, OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW, OFFICER ADAM BOUK, CITY OF SALISBURY, SHERIFF KEVIN AUTEN and PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Set Deadlines: PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY answer due 7/23/2021. Emancipate NC attorney Ian Mance is representing Bottom in a lawsuit seeking damages for excessive force, co-counseling with the Civil Clinic at North Carolina Central University School of Law. The officers, from the Salisbury Police Department and Rowan County Sheriffs Department, pulled Bottom over as she drove to a funeral. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed, attorney Ian Mance told the Observer. She said she also experienced extreme terror. When she came to a stop, she says cops rushed toward her with guns drawn. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, officers grabbed the by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground. What have I done wrong?. Bodycam footage from the incident shows officers approach Bottom's vehicle with guns drawn. Filter by City. TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Do not sell or share my personal information. She appeared in court for the traffic violations, pleaded responsible to failure to heed blue lights, and the other charges against her were dismissed, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiff 's purse and vehicle suit alleges that in his official capacity he `` approved and condoned unlawful. Also abide by the same law Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this bottom the... Were white with an elderly woman suit alleges that in his official capacity he `` and! 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