Instead of issuing a ticket, two of the officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and her hair and threw her out of the vehicle and onto the ground. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? The force applied by the officers caused Bottoms shoulder to pop, tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury, according to the lawsuit. 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Bottom suffered a rotator cuff injury in her shoulder as a result of the officers violence. 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. Phone Number: May 11, 2021 | Criminal Justice Reform, Emancipate NC News, Policing. a librarian from Georgia has filed a civil rights lawsuit against police officers over a traffic stop gone awry. WebThe woman, Stephanie Bottom of Atlanta, who is Black, said she was driving to a funeral and posing no threat to the officers when they stopped her on Interstate 85 for driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia. The then-66-year-old librarian from Fulton County, Georgia, was listening to music and didn't initially see the flashing blue lights coming from the police vehicle behind her, Holmes said. When she was asked to stand but couldnt because of the pain in her shoulder, officers forcefully picked her up by her arms, inflicting more injury to her shoulder. 25-Year-Old Mom Gives Birth to 9 Babies at the Same Time, 16-Year Old Headed to College, Chooses HBCU Over Yale and Harvard, Single Black Dad Says He Will Encourage His Son to Pursue Entrepreneurship Instead of College, 28-Year-Old Makes History as the Third Black Female Captain For PSA Airlines, 67-Year-Old Black Woman Makes History, Finally Earns High School Diploma, Black Mom Now Wows Fans, Officially as Pop Star Vallyre, Black Poet Pens His 4th Book, Perspective, Thats Sure to Leave Readers Wanting More, Civil Rights Activist Essie Berry Calls Out CVS Pharmacy For Sexual Harassment and Assault, 8-Year-Old Partners With Her Grandmother to Launch Black-Owned Skincare Brand for Kids, School Janitor of 23 Years Changes Careers, Becomes a Teacher, 78-Year Old Great-Grandmother Graduates From College, First Black Male to Become a Full Professor at the Univ. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that I was going to die.'. In a federal lawsuit, a 68-year-old Black librarian is accusing North Carolina law enforcement officers of using excessive force against her during a traffic stop. Im on my way to a funeral, my aunts funeral, she sobs. Bottom said all of the arresting officers were white. Traveling north on I-85, she eventually noticed the Four law enforcement officers are named in the federal lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. By Stephanie Hubler | Feb. 23 Send 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. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. The video shows Stephanie Bottom, 66, repeatedly pleading with Salisbury police officers and Rowan County sheriffs deputies to tell her why they stopped her on When she asked for medical assistance, she estimated that an hour elapsed before officers called for help, the lawsuit stated. Posted by 10 months ago. It's unclear how close police were to Bottom's vehicle before she pulled over, as the footage only shows the inside of the police vehicle and the sky. Bottom was charged with speeding and resisting arrest. Bottom insists to the white officers that she was unaware she was being told to pull over due to loud music in her car. 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. Discovery Company. 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. Zendaya comes up roses in spectacular pink gown as she joins glamorous Jessica Chastain, Angela Bassett and Aubrey Plaza on red carpet in Los Angeles. 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Utah lawmaker accused of trying to intimidate deputies into freeing his burglar son, Bodycam video shows Tyre Nichols yell mom as hes being beaten, tased by Memphis police, Heinous body camera footage of Tyre Nichols beating to be released Friday evening, Police chief warns Memphis not to react violently after release of Tyre Nichols inhumane beating video. Stephanie Bottom is suing the police over her arrest in May 2019 which left her with a torn rotator cuff. Bottom had surgery to repair the tear but the injury prevents her from raising her left arm above her head, according to the suit. 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. Police pull Black woman by hair, injure her shoulder in traffic stop. The lawsuit said she was listening to music loudly in her car at that time and she did not immediately realize she was being pulled over. Four law enforcement officers are named in the federal lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Stephanie Bottom filed a federal lawsuit against NC police claiming officers violated her rights by using excessive force. The just-released body cam video She also admits to going 10 miles over the speed limit, which was 70mph, meaning she was driving around 80mph. Ms. But she didnt immediately comply, the lawsuit says, because she feared the police and did not want to pull off on the side of the road along the interstate., Defendant officers became frustrated with Plaintiff when she did not pull over quickly enough, the lawsuit alleges. After the arrest, Bottom claimed she was listening to music loudly in her car and did not realize she was being pulled over, according to the lawsuit, a claim that can be heard in the video. Stephanie Bottom filed a federal lawsuit against NC police claiming officers violated her rights by using excessive force. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he "approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.". I didn't know you guys were chasing after me. 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. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. 2. Emancipate NC attorney Ian Mance and Emancipate NC client Stephanie Bottom are featured in a new CNN documentary: CNN Special Report- Traffic Stop: Dangerous Encounters. Benfield, Barkalow, and Bouk placed [Bottom] in handcuffs and secured her at the front of her vehicle prior to commencing their search of [Bottoms] vehicle and purse. Charges against her for speeding and resisting arrest were dismissed. According to the lawsuit against Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, Bottom, who was then 66-years old, did not know she was going about 10 mph more than the speed limit. North Carolina the only state allowing unnecessary killing of sea turtles (3) 'Pagan' bike gang leader in N. Carolina sentenced to prison (3) Deputy cleared in shooting death of Gloucester woman (3) Bottom, an Atlanta librarian and grandmother of five, was driving to North Carolina for a relatives funeral when police stopped her vehicle after it was going 10 The comments below have been moderated in advance. Why are you doing this to me? asks Bottom, who is from Atlanta. Phone Number: Ms. STEPHANIE BOTTOM: Defendant: DEPUTY MARK BENFIELD, OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW, OFFICER ADAM BOUK, CITY OF SALISBURY, SHERIFF KEVIN [She] did not pose a threat to [the officers] or anyone else as she had her hands up as she attempted to exit the vehicle. Get notified of updates. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. We found 17 records for people named Stephanie Austin in 17 cities in North Carolina throughout Raleigh, Olin, and 15 more cities! As she was handcuffed on the side of the road, the officers searched her vehicle and purse without her consent, a warrant, or probable cause which violated Bottom's Fourth Amendment rights, the lawsuit says. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that Im going to die.. The police department in Salisbury said they would not comment when contacted by Inside Edition. In her lawsuit, Bottom allegestwo separate violations of the 4th and 14th Amendments, as well as assault and battery. (Garland, Leah), Motion Referred: RE: #3 APPLICATION to Proceed IFP to MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE. 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. 6:10 AM EDT, Wed April 28, 2021, Police pull Black woman by hair, injure her shoulder in traffic stop. Durham, NC 27702 On the same day Bottoms case was filed, it was automatically referred to mediation under local court rules due to the subject matter concerning an alleged Civil Rights violation under 42 U.S.C. 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. Click a location below to find Stephanie more easily. When officers approached her car, their firearms were drawn. 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. North Carolina Central Eagles (16-11, 9-4 MEAC) at South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-24, 2-11 MEAC) Orangeburg, South Carolina; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: North Carolina Central faces the 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? 8. As she was handcuffed on the side of the road, the officers searched her vehicle and purse without her consent, a warrant, or probable cause which violated Bottoms Fourth Amendment rights, the lawsuit says. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. 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. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. 2001-2023 Dante Lee International | All Rights Reserved. Maam, there were three police cars behind you for about 10 miles, one of the officers replied. As Rowan County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Benfield and Barkalow approached her vehicle they had their guns drawn and pointed at her, according to the lawsuit. 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.". The Atlanta-based librarian was allegedly assaulted by cops in 2019, during a traffic stop. Officers forced her to lay face down on the ground and twisted her arm behind her back, causing her shoulder to pop, tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury, the lawsuit said, according to CNN. 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