Police Brutality in Maricopa County Is Recurring Problem
In early October, police officer Richard Chrisman responded to a domestic violence call from a Phoenix, Arizona, trailer home. A mother had phoned 911 to ask for help in dealing with her 29-year-old son, who was throwing items at the wall. She wanted the police to reason with her son, perhaps teaching him some respect.
Officer Chrisman, however, shot and killed both Danny Frank Rodriquez and his dog. Rodriguez reportedly was unarmed and, according to another police officer who was present, not enough of a threat to warrant such action.
Officer Chrisman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.
History of Police Brutality in Maricopa County, Phoenix
The alleged actions of Officer Chrisman are extreme, and it is unusual for a police officer to be charged with murder for events that occurred on the job. Even so, Maricopa County has experienced a high level of police brutality.
In some cases, police officers were found not guilty of criminal charges; in some cases, the families of the victims of police brutality collected significant settlements to compensate for their pain and suffering.
- In 2002, an Arizona police officer shot and killed a woman driving her car in a pharmacy drive-through. She was suspected of forging a prescription.
- In 2009, an off-duty police officer shot an unarmed man who was fighting with someone else in a department store.
- A Maricopa County family recently settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $3 million against the City of Mesa for the death of their 15-year-old son, who was shot by police. The boy's mother had called police for help when he threatened to commit suicide; eight police officers responded, and three of them shot and killed the boy.
- The death of a double amputee who had been pulled over by Phoenix police in the 1990s resulted in a settlement of more than $5 million between his parents and the City of Phoenix.
Types of Damages Victims of Police Brutality May Seek
Police officers are responsible for their actions and must be held accountable.
Police who use excessive force can cause serious injury or even death. A person who has suffered due to police misconduct may file a lawsuit against the officer and police department that violated his or her civil rights. Victims of police brutality may endure serious injuries from Tasers, guns, physical assault and other use of excessive force.
Speaking with an experienced attorney is an important step for people have suffered police brutality. Such cases can be hard to prove, so meeting with an attorney who understands the evidence and the intricacies of the law will provide a realistic assessment of the situation.
