The mother and father of a person killed in Washington by Auburn police have filed a federal wrongful dying and civil rights lawsuit alleging an officer shot Enosa Strickland Jr. at the back of the pinnacle whereas he was mendacity in a parking zone.
The lawsuit additionally contends officer Kenneth Lyman has an intensive historical past of utilizing drive and was carrying an unapproved and “unlawful” dagger that he later claimed Strickland had grabbed and refused to drop throughout a wrestle, The Seattle Instances reported.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court docket in Seattle, alleges that Lyman and one other officer recognized solely with the initials “DM,” responded to a home disturbance in an house parking zone round 1 a.m. on Could 20, 2019, the place a lady “had apparently rejected Strickland’s romantic overtures.”
“EJ was not engaged in any unlawful actions or violating any legal guidelines,” in response to the grievance. “EJ was unarmed. EJ was not arrested.”
The officers, involved that Strickland, 26, had had an excessive amount of to drink, allowed him to name his mom, Kathleen Keliikoa-Strickland. They spoke and he or she agreed to return choose him up, in response to the declare.
The lawsuit alleges that the interplay between the person and the officers turned strained and Lyman struck him within the face. In response to the lawsuit and the household’s legal professional Edward Moore, “No warnings, admonitions or cautions had been concern” earlier than Lyman hit Strickland.
The lawsuit alleges the officers then tackled Strickland, who wound up facedown on the bottom, and one minute later Lyman shot him. Strickland’s mom and father arrived 4 minutes later.
Moore stated the grievance is predicated on police stories, witness statements and dash-camera audio and video.
Tiffany Lieu, a spokeswoman for Auburn, stated the town was conscious of the lawsuit however in any other case declined to remark.
The case was referred for assessment to Snohomish County, the place prosecutors decided Lyman’s actions had been authorized.
Earlier this 12 months, Auburn resident Peter Manning sued Lyman and the town, alleging the workplace crashed a SWAT van into Manning’s work truck, injuring him, after which fled the scene. An inside investigation discovered Lyman responsible of misconduct, in response to the Auburn Reporter newspaper, it’s unclear whether or not he was disciplined.
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