Riverside, California — A jury has awarded $5 million to the family of Leroy Stephenson, who died in 2019 after being restrained and Tased by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers. The verdict was announced on September 19, 2023, by the attorneys representing Stephenson’s family.
Stephenson, 48, was allegedly in the midst of a mental health crisis when he was spotted walking on the 91 Freeway on January 25, 2019. According to reports from the family’s legal team, Stephenson was moving erratically, dancing between traffic lanes. CHP officers located him at an offramp near Adams Street and attempted to lead him away from danger, but he reportedly ran back toward the freeway.
Officer Dane Norem deployed his Taser twice, causing Stephenson to fall into the area between the freeway exit ramp and the main lanes. While Stephenson lay face down, Norem discharged his Taser three additional times. The family’s attorneys assert that at this point, he was not resisting or attempting to rise.
While restrained in a prone position, with an officer’s weight pressing on his back, Stephenson was held down for two and a half minutes as officers struggled to secure him in handcuffs. According to the family’s attorneys, he remained in that position, under the restraint of both officers and civilians, for another three and a half minutes, during which he stopped breathing.
Emergency medical personnel were summoned and attempted to revive him, but he was later pronounced dead.
Expert testimony during the trial indicated that holding Stephenson in a prone position after he was handcuffed contradicted established police training protocols and safety measures. The attorneys for the family have emphasized this failure to adhere to proper procedures.
The jury found the CHP and Officer Norem liable for wrongful death on four counts, including excessive force under the Fourth Amendment, interference with familial relationships under the Fourteenth Amendment, battery, and negligence.
Dale K. Galipo, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, expressed hope that the jury’s decision would contribute to preventing similar incidents of excessive use of force by law enforcement in the future.
As for the CHP, they have refrained from commenting on the case, referencing potential future legal proceedings.
This article was automatically produced by Open AI, and the individuals, facts, circumstances, and story may not be accurate. Any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing to email contact@publiclawlibrary.org.