The property of a person shot and killed in June by Portland police after he known as 911 for assist has filed a wrongful loss of life lawsuit.
Oregon Public Broadcasting studies Michael Townsend known as 911 whereas experiencing suicidal ideations and advised the dispatcher he had the means to harm himself, in keeping with a transcript of the 911 name.
Paramedics and police responded to a Motel 6 the place Townsend advised them he wished to go to the hospital. The Multnomah County District Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned when officer Brett Emmons advised Townsend they would wish to pat him down, Townsend pulled a pointed instrument out of his pocket.
Video launched by the Portland Police Bureau exhibits two officers and 4 firefighters stepping again as Townsend advances. Within the video, Emmons seems to succeed in for his Taser whereas officer Curtis Brown shoots Townsend, who falls to the bottom.
A grand jury selected to not indict Brown on felony prices. The Portland Police Bureau is conducting an inner investigation to find out if the officers violated insurance policies.
The wrongful loss of life criticism, filed Monday in Multnomah County circuit court docket, alleges town ought to have dispatched extra certified psychological well being professionals.
Whereas Portland is presently grappling with the right way to higher reply to psychological well being calls, the lawsuit says Townsend’s name may have been routed to the County Psychological Well being Name Heart or to the Tri-County 911 Service Coordination Program, a program designed to attach frequent 911 callers to well being and social providers that may higher match their wants.
As a substitute, the lawsuit says, “residents like Mr. Townsend who name 911 throughout a psychological well being disaster usually find yourself coping with armed law enforcement officials, and in the event that they survive their encounters with armed law enforcement officials, usually find yourself within the felony justice system, reasonably than the psychological well being system.”
The household just isn’t in search of financial damages and desires an order requiring Portland to raised prepare officers responding to welfare test calls and necessities for 911 dispatchers to make “good religion efforts” to route psychological well being calls to the specialised groups.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who serves as town’s police commissioner, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
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