VALLEJO – The metropolis of Vallejo agreed to pay $40,000 to settle a lawsuit introduced by a driver who mentioned he was attacked by a Vallejo police canine following a police pursuit final yr, in keeping with courtroom information.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court by Myles Tomerlin in August and alleged that Vallejo police used extreme power and violated his civil rights after they allowed a police canine to chunk his arm for 23 seconds by the window of his automotive.
The metropolis swiftly settled the swimsuit for $40,000 a month later, in keeping with an offer of judgment filed by town.
The incident referred to as into query use of force statistics launched by the division’s skilled requirements division, which mentioned that officers didn’t deploy dogs in any respect throughout 2022, however did thrice up to now on this yr.
Vallejo police spokesperson Sgt. Rashad Hollis acknowledged that the 2022 use of power statistics had been inaccurate and mentioned that the skilled requirements division can be reviewing the info to re-release it.
The use of power reviews present a major improve in power by Vallejo law enforcement officials up to now this yr, however Vallejo police argued that sure classes weren’t tracked properly final yr, making comparisons troublesome.
Tomerlin’s lawsuit alleges that on March 12, 2022, Vallejo law enforcement officials Zach Horton and Rosendo Mesa tried to tug him over. He was afraid of the officers due to the division’s popularity for violence, so he didn’t instantly yield, in keeping with the lawsuit.
According to a pursuit report submitted to the California Highway Patrol, Vallejo police tried to tug over a driver for reckless driving at 1:06 a.m. that day, who led Horton and Mesa on a 2-mile pursuit that lasted 2 minutes and ended when the suspect’s automotive was disabled.
After he stopped, Tomerlin waited within the automotive for the officers together with his window down and didn’t resist, in keeping with the lawsuit. But regardless of that, Mesa both commanded or allowed his police canine Loki to enter Tomerlin’s automotive by the window and chunk him.
The canine bit Tomerlin on his bicep for 23 seconds and Mesa took no motion to cease it, regardless of that the canine was outfitted with a collar that would give the canine an digital command to cease the attack, in keeping with the lawsuit.
The attack left Tomerlin with bodily accidents in addition to continued concern and anxiousness, the lawsuit states.
Tomerlin was arrested after the incident and charged with evading police and driving whereas his license was suspended or revoked, in keeping with courtroom information. Tomerlin pleaded no contest to misdemeanor evading in April 2022 and was sentenced to six months in jail. The suspended license cost was dismissed.
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