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. 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.". The incident report describes one point during the chase where Master Deputy M. Smith sped up beside Bottoms vehicle and saw her put her hand up in a manner that suggested she didnt care or was not sure what was going on.. While state law allows people pictured in body camera videos to receive a copy, the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department are prevented from releasing the video without a court order. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. Bottom didnt think she was speeding and claims she didnt realize she was being pulled over. If youre going to argue that they shouldnt have dont that, leave her gender, race, and age out of it for fucks sake. In the lawsuit, Bottom says law enforcement officers used excessive force, drew their guns during the stop, pulled her out of the car by her hair and tore her rotator cuff. She was cruising northbound on Interstate 85 in her Toyota Sequoia. An incident report states Benfield asked Bottom where her drivers license was located and that she told him it was in her purse on the passenger sides floorboard. The clinic has partnered with Emancipate North Carolina, a civil rights nonprofit based in Durham. Smith pulled ahead of Bottom at one point and laid down a spike strip to flatten her SUVs tires. Cars are extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, and just in general. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he "approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.". attempted to drive around the Stop Sticks that were used to deflate her tires. "I was sitting at a red light at the square in here in Salisbury when the call came in that we had a gunshot victim," said Master Police Officer Joe Wilson. "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. Nonfatal encounters have also been thrust back into the national spotlight following a lawsuit brought this month by Lt. Caron Nazario. One of the officers named in the lawsuit, Devin Barkalow, declined to comment to the Charlotte Observer but no longer works for the police department. Look at the tires in the beginning. Helping a Hero is a charity that builds specialized homes for injured service members. Paramedics were eventually called to the scene. Like, theres got to be a better way to handle this. I am exhausted with seeing Black bodies abused, tortured and sometimes killed by police officers for minor traffic infractions or other incidents that should not end in death, Dancy said. He left the police force for a role in federal law enforcement over a year ago. Theres a fear that even while doing our very best to follow the law and mind our business, we can come across an officer who fails to see our humanity or value our lives. Lawsuit to be filed against police after Calif. man dies while being restrained by police. Were asking for simple things that should already be in place.. Bottoms attorneys also argue that officers were deliberately indifferent to the womans pain. An internal investigation is pending. Jacob Linn (1825-1878) was a gunsmith, business owner, Bexar County commissioner, landowner, and rancher. We Found 1 Results For Devin Barkalow. When Bottom didn't 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. SALISBURY, NC (WBTV) - Two Salisbury police officers were honored as lifesavers for their work in saving a man who had been shot twice and was bleeding to death. A March report from the review panel, which is part of the Governors Crime Commission, showed that Black drivers are also searched nearly twice the rate as white and Hispanics in North Carolina, and more than three times the rate of other races. Bottom is seeking a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages as well as court costs and attorneys fees. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. He is a white male registered to vote in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In the suit, Bottom says law enforcement officers used excessive force, drew their guns during the stop, pulled her out of the car by her hair and tore her rotator cuff. There are no facts likely to emerge that warrant a 68 year old to be manhandled like that, fucking none. He was uninjured in the incident. The allegations were first reported by the Charlotte Observer. The then-66-year-old librarian from Fulton County, Georgia, was listening to music and didn't initially see the flashing blue lights coming from the police vehicle behind her, Holmes said. One of the officers named in the lawsuit, Barkalow, declined to comment, but said he no longer works for the police department. We expect complete transparency from law enforcement., Walker said the absence of reprimand only perpetuates the abuse of power that leaves us without justice.. Four law enforcement officers are named in the federal lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Bottom said she was listening to music loudly in her car and did not realize she was being pulled over, according to the lawsuit. One of the police officers who no longer works for the Salisbury Police Department declined to comment when contacted by the Charlotte Observer. The information viewed in the video from 2019 released by local media is not what we expect or will accept from our local law enforcement, she said. "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. Derek Chauvin trial juror details courtroom experience, deliberations: 'You're watching somebody die on a daily basis'. Bottom would later be charged with speeding, failure to heed to blue lights and resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer. A gray-headed, Black lady driving 10 miles over the speed limit, Peckman said. Anger is only one of the emotions I felt when I witnessed the video of what transpired between Ms. Stephanie Bottom and the officers in 2019. Officers then handcuffed Garcia, who police said "exhibited signs of being under the influence." 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. Bouk refused, while the three other officers ignored her pleas. One of the officers named in the lawsuit, Devin Barkalow, declined to comment to the Charlotte Observer but no longer works for the police department. Sheriff Kevin Auten is named only in his official capacity as the sheriff and is not alleged to have been involved in the incident. This should anger all of us.. Bottom was not driving recklessly, she didnt lead officers on a high-speed chase, and she never intentionally tried to elude them, her attorneys contend. 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. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. Thats consistent with the incident report from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, which states that Rowan County Master Deputy Mark Benfield tried to stop Bottom around Julian Road. But here, that is kind of the main way that people interact with police, Mance added. An sexagenarian Black librarian claims she was assaulted and beaten by police officers and deputies during a traffic stop on a North Carolina highway in May 2019. This is a military officer and this is a woman, the two pictures are saying. One of the officers in the lawsuit, Devin Barkalow, declined to talk about the complaint. . Former Salisbury Police officer Devin Barkalow is accused of pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her hair. In the footage, Bottom is seen screaming as Benfield, Barkalow, and Salisbury Police Officer Adam Bouk force her to lay face down on the ground, according to the lawsuit. CNN has reached out to Rowan County Sheriff's Department for comment but has not yet heard back. Durham, NC 27707 Defendant Attorney NED A. STILES Attorney at STILES BYRUM & HORNE, LLP Stephanie Bottom was making the six-hour trek from Atlanta to Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend her aunts funeral. OMONOMBE, YVINCE WA YEMA. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users After Benfields initial attempt to pull Bottom over, a roughly 14-mile chase ensued and ended when law enforcement officers eventually flattening Bottoms tires in Davidson County, The incident report states Benfield commanded the driver to exit the vehicle to which she refused to obey commands several times. Body camera footage. View Devin Barkalow's record in Wild Rose, WI including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. The other officers named in the suit are Adam Bouk, a sergeant for the Salisbury Police Department, and Mark Benfield, who is listed in the Rowan County Sheriffs Office directory as a master deputy. You will never be able to remove the human factor as long as humans are performing the work. Bottom said she was driving to Raleigh for a funeral in May 2019 when she was pulled over for speeding and failing to heed to blue lights. And thank God they had to wear body cams or we still wouldnt know what happened., Rev. Represented By. After Benfields initial attempt to pull Bottom over, a roughly 14-mile chase ensued and ended when law enforcement officers eventually flattening Bottoms tires in Davidson County, according to the incident report. The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. Officers had guns drawn When Bottoms didn't immediately pull over, one of the officers making the traffic stop identified in the lawsuit as Salisbury Police Officer Devin Barkalow made. The car was stopped when they apprehended her. The first cop seems to understand that this is an older lady and doesn't seem to present an immediate threat. So this was very disruptive to her life in many ways.. against her in a 2019 traffic stop, the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP is calling for accountability and transparency from local law enforcement agencies. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. Bottom noticed the deputys blue lights but didnt think she was speeding so she didnt stop. Once on the ground, officers twisted Bottoms arm behind her back, causing her shoulder to pop, tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury, the lawsuit said. Filter by State in . 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. An internal investigation is pending. Derek Barkalow Found. Relatives & Associates. Like the officers who leave their home not knowing if they will safely return, many of us feel the exact same way every single day. I also felt horror, humiliation and sadness.. Theyre so disturbing. Bottom asks for a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages as well as court costs and attorneys fees. JAMES R. MORGAN, JR. Womble Bond Dickinson (us) LLP contact info. The other officers named in the suit are Adam . The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. It's unclear how close police were to Bottom's vehicle before she pulled over, as the footage only shows the inside of the police vehicle and the sky. The man had been shot twice. A spokesman for the city of Salisbury also declined to comment about the incident. Uhm..she was speeding, they got behind her and lit her up. Bottom was not available for comment this week. Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246. The company's filing status is listed as Organized and its File Number is B101474. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. I respect and appreciate police officers who uphold the oath to protect and to serve and carry out their duties with a sense of honor, courage and compassion, Dancy said. 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. During this time, Bouk is heard on the body camera footage saying, "That's good police work baby" to other officers, according to the suit. 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.". Represented By. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. As for the other demands, Black said he thinks those could be delivered upon easily. Olen Bruner called on city leadership to work toward and enact changes that residents elected them to address, particularly archaic laws regarding racial injustice and police brutality that city leaders can hide behind and that protect the system., My first change is stop killing us, he said. Among them was Salisbury police officer Adam Bouk, Rowan County sheriffs deputy Mark Benfield, a Highway Patrol trooper identified in the lawsuit only as Officer Smith and Devin Barkalow, a plainclothes Salisbury cop. Officers had their sirens on for at least 10 minutes, according to body camera footage that is cited in the lawsuit and was reviewed by CNN. Body camera footage shows Benfield pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her arm. I'm a diabetic and having high or low sugar around police is a scary thought. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. It was late August, Officer Wilson and Detective Devin Barkalow rushed to the 700 block of Second Street where they saw a man leaning up against the front door of a duplex. Barkalow bragged about grabbing a handful of dreads, and said at that point she earned it.. He identified her on the radio as "an older Black female." A frustrated Barkalow called. The then-66-year-old librarian from Fulton County, Georgia, was listening to music and didn't initially see the flashing blue lights coming from the police vehicle behind her, Holmes said. The lawsuit, which requests a jury trial, alleges two officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and her hair, later throwing her out of the vehicle and on to the ground. The other officers swooped in and handcuffed Bottom, who yelled and writhed in pain as they yanked her arms her back to shackle her. Though Chief Jerry Stokes has done some good things, Sheffield said, theyre not evident in the overall culture being depicted. A Westminster Police Department officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after cellphone video showed him punching a handcuffed woman twice in the face, CBS Los Angeles reports. Video shows officers pulling Bottoms arms behind her back. The lawsuit also alleges violations of constitutional amendments about unlawful searches and seizures, saying evidence found in the car would not support charges for speeding. It also claims that the officers congratulated one other for their work and an officer identified in the lawsuit as Barkalow is heard bragging about grabbing a "handful of dreads," saying "at that point she earned it.". The man was later identified as William Scott Kerr, Jr., 31. The company has 1 contact on record. Another officer involved in the traffic stop, only identified as Officer Smith, pulled ahead of Bottom and deployed spike strips that immediately immobilized her vehicle, the lawsuit says. Bottoms lawsuit was filed last week in the U.S. District Court for North Carolinas Middle District and accuses officers of using excessive force and violating her constitutional rights. Theres nothing that can justify how she was pulled out of the car, but what led up to that?. After the search, officers told Bottom to stand, but she said she couldn't due to the pain in her shoulder, according to the suit. Following the public comments, Mayor Pro Tem Al Heggins asked the city council to find a way to address the concerns and deliver transparency. The Salisbury Police Department and Rowan County Sheriffs Office could not be reached for comment by publication time. Black said the Salisbury-Rowan NAACPs legal redress committee came together to craft the wording and demands made in the letter after analyzing the available camera footage of the incident. Lawsuit to be filed against police after Calif. man dies while being restrained by police. 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