CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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.. Nationwide Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year old Black woman from Raleigh, North Carolina, has filed a lawsuit claiming that police officers used excessive force on her during a traffic stop two years ago that caused her severe injuries. DeSantis coming to CA as new poll shows him leading Trump, Ice flies off SUV, smashing windshield: 'You could kill somebody', How safe is your neighborhood? The mainstream narrative that criminalizes Black and Brown people must be transformedso that we can all get free. Have a tip we should know? The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. [emailprotected]. Have a tip or story idea? Black librarian Stephanie Bottom pulled by hair, injured by police in Salisbury, North Carolina, lawsuit says. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? The Observer obtained the video footage which shows Bottom, crying in handcuffs, asking what have I done wrong?. 'Within five seconds of arriving at her drivers side door with guns drawn, Defendants Benfield and Barkalow grabbed Plaintiff by her arm and hair and threw her from her Toyota Sequoia to the ground,' the lawsuit says. WebStephanie Bottom is a 68-year-old black woman who is suing the North Carolina police for using excessive force during a traffic stop in May 2019. Updated Stephanie Bottom alleges she was thrown to the ground during a traffic stop that started because officers said she was speeding. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that Im going to die.. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. The Charlotte Observer reported Stephanie Bottom, an Atlanta native and librarian, filed her lawsuit on April 21 and claimed a group of white officers used excessive force when they pulled her over. He took a job with federal law enforcement in February 2020, according to Linda McElroy, a spokesperson for the city of Salisbury. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. When she asked for medical assistance, she estimated that an hour elapsed before officers called for help, the lawsuit stated. Ms. Bottom wasn't even arrested.'. 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. 23 South Carolina baseball team continued its unbeaten start to the 2023 season in an 11-3 victory over North Carolina A&T Tuesday afternoon at Founders Park. Get notified of updates. I was just driving, Bottom says. Show our community and nation that law enforcement who enforce the law, must also abide by the same law.. Business class plane passenger refuses to give up his seat so a man could sit next to his wife on her birthday - selfish or fair enough? Do you live in the next East Palestine? Medicaid to cut 14 MILLION Americans from health coverage as states crack down on eligibility for the first time in three years after numbers soared during COVID - so are you at risk? ', 'Won't somebody think of the fentanyl dealers?' Bottom was driving from Atlanta to Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend her aunts funeral. Maam, there were three police cars behind you for about 10 miles, one of the officers replied. She was terrified, according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. 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. The officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop, as Bottom was allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone. They have also lived in Willow Spring, NC and Raleigh, NC. 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 camera that Bottom was a "f**king retard" and a "douche bag," according to the body camera footage. TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. She says that when she requested medical assistance, approximately an hour elapsed before officers called for help. "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 suit drew coverage from the Washington Post. She is now suing the police officers who were involved in her arrest, Bottom complains repeatedly during the arrest about the cops hurting her, 'Ms. The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. noticed the blue lights of a Sheriff Deputys vehicle. I was just driving. See the links below for more info. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. Stephanie Bottom, then 66, was driving her car to Raleigh for her great aunts funeral on 30 May, 2019 when, Salisbury police and Rowan County sheriff appreciated. Bottom pleaded guilty to failing to heed blue lights. As is standard, we are unable to comment on pending litigation.. Docket action in the case was quick, however, and there may not be much of any precedent as a result of the lawsuit. The No. WBTV reported the city of Salisbury, North Carolina provided a statement about the case: The Salisbury Police Department strives for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where we may suspect criminal activity. Officers issued Bottom a summons, charging her with "speeding failure to heed blue lights, and resisting, delaying, and obstructing an officer for allegedly refusing to get out of her vehicle and pulling away from the officer," according to the lawsuit. 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. Officers Barkalow and Bouk picked up by her arms, inflicting additional pain to her shoulder, forced her to stand and put her in the back of a patrol car, according to the lawsuit. 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. The No. Four law enforcement officers are named in the federal lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. WebDr. Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunts funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes According to Bottom, all of the arresting officers were white, In a CBS News article from April 23, Ian Mance is quoted saying Ms. Download theGrio today! Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov. Once on the ground, officers twisted Bottom's arm behind her back, causing her 'shoulder to 'pop,' tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury,' the lawsuit said. She is hard working, hard charging and highly professional. 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. We've received your submission. Traveling north on I-85, she eventually noticed the blue lights of a Sheriff Deputys vehicle and began looking for a safe area to pull over, according to her lawsuit filed in federal court on Wednesday. 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. Three law enforcement officers in North Carolina are accused of using 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. Lawsuit to be filed against police after Calif. man dies while being restrained by police. See the links below for more info. Get a complete background report of Stephanie Austin at LocatePeople with phone, address, email, criminal, court and arrest records. She also admits to going 10 miles over the speed limit, which was 70mph, meaning she was driving around 80mph. 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. 2. Meanwhile, officers search her car, which Bottom alleges she didn't consent for, Officers are then seen using their force to get Bottom to put her arms behind her back. 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.". NC governor calls for release of bodycam video in Andrew Brown killing, Police video shows officer using stun gun on handcuffed man, 68-year-old woman sues NC police for violent traffic stop recorded on body camera, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. A 66-year-old librarian is suing police in North Carolina for allegedly using excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop in which she says she was thrown to the ground. "Why are you doing this to me? Bottom is heard telling officers. By Associated Press and Holden Walter-warner For Dailymail.com, Published: 21:04 EST, 22 April 2021 | Updated: 13:58 EST, 23 April 2021. 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. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. Law enforcements handling of the situation was captured on body cameras, and images of their initial approach were included as exhibits in the lawsuit. The suit was filed in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina. Browse Locations. Sheriff's deputies in North Carolina say they tried to pull Bottom over for speeding, but she refused to stop. As officers search the car - which Bottom alleges she did not consent to - one explains that three police cars have been following her for around 10 miles, which Bottom agreed with, as officers explain how she was speeding. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. The grandmother of five says she was on her way to her aunts funeral when she was pulled over for allegedlygoing 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriffs 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. quickly enough, the lawsuit alleges. Get notified of updates. An officer declined the request, but paramedics later took Bottom to a hospital, the Charlotte Observer reported. According to the lawsuit, the police grabbed the then 66-year-old by her hair, and threw her to the ground resulting in a torn rotator cuff. When she came to a stop, she says cops rushed toward her with guns drawn. A 68-year-old Black librarian from Georgia has filed a civil rights lawsuit against police officers over a traffic stop gone awry. Im on my way to a funeral, my aunts funeral, she sobs. It is an absolute pleasure to know her and have worked with her.. 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. A black librarian has filed a federal lawsuit claiming white cops in used excessive force by pulling her from her car by her hair during a traffic stop in North Carolina. Bottom pleaded guilty to failing to heed blue lights. Officers issued Bottom a summons, charging her with "speeding failure to heed blue lights, and resisting, delaying, and obstructing an officer for allegedly refusing to get out of her vehicle and pulling away from the officer," according to the lawsuit. Bottom informed the outlet that her injuries kept her from working for eight months, resulting in a loss of wages. WebI would highly recommend Stephanie. area to pull over, according to her lawsuit filed in federal court on Wednesday. She pleads for help, saying she has an injured shoulder. 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She pleaded guilty to failure to heed blue lights and the other charges against her were dismissed. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.. Officers Barkalow and Bouk picked up by her arms, inflicting additional pain to her shoulder, forced her to stand and put her in the back of a patrol car, according to the lawsuit. Officers Barkalow and Bouk picked up by her arms, inflicting additional pain to her shoulder, forced her to stand and put her in the back of a patrol car, according to the lawsuit. Rowan County Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department must hold the individuals in the video accountable. As Rowan County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Benfield and Barkalow approached her vehicle they had their guns drawn and pointed at her, according to the lawsuit. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The injury reportedly kept the now-68-year-old woman out of work for eight months and left her shaking in fear, she said. Derek Chauvin trial juror details courtroom experience, deliberations: 'You're watching somebody die on a daily basis'. Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the US Court's PACER system. The Gamecocks responded in the bottom of the seventh with sacrifice plays by Petry and sophomore catcher Talmadge LeCroy. 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Bottom was charged with speeding and resisting arrest. 8. Millions of Americans are being kept in the dark about toxic trains rumbling through their neighborhoods as railroad companies refuse to disclose which carry hazardous loads. Police pull Black woman by hair, injure her shoulder in traffic stop. A Salisbury police officer involved in the stop, allegedly Devin Barkalow, 'bragged about "grabbing a handful of dreads", and said "at that point she earned it",' the lawsuit said, citing footage from the officer's body camera. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman,' said Ian Mance, a lawyer with EmancipateNC who represents Bottom. 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. Her to exit the vehicle she also admits to going 10 miles over the speed,... 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