Riverside

Justice Served: Jury Awards $5 Million for Death of Riverside Man Excessively Tased by Police

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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 … Read more

Ninth Circuit Affirms $1.5 Million Negligence Verdict Against Riverside Deputies in Controversial Restraint Case

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A ruling from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a $1.5 million verdict awarded to the family of a man who died after interactions with sheriff’s deputies. The court determined that while there was no violation of the Fourth Amendment, the deputies showed negligence by failing to provide necessary medical assistance after restraining the individual. The case involves the death of Kevin Niedzialek, who became unresponsive following a confrontation with Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies in July 2019. Deputies Brian Keeney and Sonia Gomez responded to reports of Niedzialek, who … Read more

Mistrial Declared in Riverside County Murder Case After Jury Deadlocks, Retrial Planned

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Riverside, Calif. — A murder trial in Riverside County has encountered a snag after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision regarding the guilt of 24-year-old Ricky Martin Ortiz, accused of a fatal shooting linked to a marijuana transaction. Following intense deliberations, the impasse forced the declaration of a mistrial by the presiding judge. According to the district attorney’s office, the jury was divided with 11 members leaning towards conviction while one juror favored acquittal. The discord stemmed from a case that has attracted considerable attention due to the circumstances surrounding the homicide of 21-year-old … Read more