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. See the links below for more info. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. Another angle appears to show an officer grabbing Bottom by her hair when yanking her from the car. A 68-year-old Atlanta librarian is suing police in Salisbury, North Carolina, claiming excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop. A pirate at heart, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Political Science at East Carolina University. The lawsuit filed Wednesday by Stephanie Bottom of Atlanta says she posed no threat to officers from the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Subscribe to Justia's Free Newsletters featuring summaries of federal and state court opinions. Officers Barkalow and Adam Bouk and Deputy Mark Benfield then quickly approached with their guns drawn. 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.. 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. The officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop, as Bottom was allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone. Law enforcements handling of the situation was captured on body cameras, and images of their initial approach were included as exhibits in the lawsuit. (Hicks, Samantha), Case ASSIGNED to JUDGE WILLIAM L. OSTEEN, JR and MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE. 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. a librarian from Georgia has filed a civil rights lawsuit against police officers over a traffic stop gone awry. The Gamecocks responded in the bottom of the seventh with sacrifice plays by Petry and sophomore catcher Talmadge LeCroy. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston says Trump's Make America Great Again slogan is RACIST and asks 'when was it ever great for the African American? ', 'Won't somebody think of the fentanyl dealers?' Why didn't you stop?" 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The No. Docket action in the case was quick, however, and there may not be much of any precedent as a result of the lawsuit. Bottom had surgery to repair the tear, but she still cannot raise her left arm above her head. Salisbury city officials declined to comment on Bottoms lawsuit, but told the outlet that its police department always strives for positive interactions with residents and visitors, including those suspected of criminal activity. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, officers grabbed the by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground. 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriff's 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. 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. Ms. I wasn't running. At no time did [the officers] request, nor did [Bottom] give, consent to search the vehicle and purse., The lawsuit also notes that Bottom is an elderly woman and that all of the officers involved in the arrest were aware of her general age based on their radio communications., It is difficult for [Bottom] to exit her vehicle quickly due to her age and medical condition, the lawsuit says. 2. Im on my way to a funeral, my aunts funeral, she sobs. 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. After the search, officers told Bottom to stand, but she said she couldn't due to the pain in her shoulder, according to the suit. (Hicks, Samantha), CASE REFERRED to Mediation pursuant to Local Rule 83.9b of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of this Court. 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.. 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. Bottom then tells the officers she has a shoulder injury and is in pain while handcuffed, leading her to ask that the cuffs be removed. She also admits to going 10 miles over the speed limit, which was 70mph, meaning she was driving around 80mph. 'Thats good police work, baby,' an officer involved in the stop can be heard saying later on the body camera footage. Browse Locations. 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. 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) Police officers then approached her with guns drawn and grabbed her by her arm and hair, pulling her out of her car and throwing her onto the ground. of Idaho. 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The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. [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. The injury reportedly kept the now-68-year-old woman out of work for eight months and left her shaking in fear, she said. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. Four law enforcement officers are named in the federal lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. By Associated Press and Holden Walter-warner For Dailymail.com, Published: 21:04 EST, 22 April 2021 | Updated: 13:58 EST, 23 April 2021. 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. The Observer obtained the video footage which shows Bottom, crying in handcuffs, asking what have I done wrong?. When she realized officers were following her, she tried to pull over 'somewhere safe where Id be around lights and people,' but she alleges spike strips were used to stop her car instead. 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.". The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. Bottom said all of the arresting officers were white. The actions of officers who abuse their power makes it hard for individuals to trust law enforcement. Within seconds of arriving at her drivers 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. Do not sell or share my personal information. the officer responds. Body cam footage shows that in a matter of a few seconds, Bottom appears to be taken out of the car by force and pinned to the ground, with her face down and officers pushing on her arm. Benfield and a second cop, Officer Devin Barkalow, then struggle to put handcuffs on Bottom while she lies face-down on the side of the roadway, according to the footage. Bottom later pleaded guilty to failing to heed blue lights, while two other charges of speeding and resisting arrest were ultimately dropped, the newspaper reported. 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Stephanie Bottom said she was driving to North Carolina for a funeral when she was pulled over for suspected speeding. 'Why are you doing this to me,' she asks. Stephanie F. Newby is a Neurologist in Charlotte, NC. He took a job with federal law enforcement in February 2020, according to Linda McElroy, a spokesperson for the city of Salisbury. Asheville (NC) (2) Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill (NC) (13) Clarendon, NC (1) On Wednesday, April 21, Bottom filed a federal lawsuit against Download theGrio today! 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 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. Close. Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. Bottom was listening to music while driving to her auntie funeral during the time and didnt We've been following you for about 10 miles, an officer responds. Please go to our website under Attorney Information for a list of mediators which must be served on all parties. STEPHANIE BOTTOM: Defendant: DEPUTY MARK BENFIELD, OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW, OFFICER ADAM BOUK, CITY OF SALISBURY, SHERIFF KEVIN Bottom was charged with speeding and resisting arrest. Stephanie Bottom, of Atlanta, Georgia, was driving to the funeral of her great aunt in May 2019 when she was seen by police allegedly going 80mph in a 70mph WebStephanie Smith is a student in the MBA program at North Carolina Central University . A black librarian was dragged by her hair and yanked out of her car at a traffic stop in North Carolina, newly released bodycam footage has revealed.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 deputies attempted to pull her over for Meanwhile, the Salisbury Police Department did not comment on the pending litigation but stated that it strives for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where we may suspect criminal activity., Get the Latest Black News and Press Releases In Your Email FREE, Your 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. 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. 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. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. 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Find Stephanie Bottoms's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. The then-66-year-old librarian from Fulton County, Georgia, was listening to music and didnt initially see the flashing blue lights coming from the police vehicle behind her, Holmes said. Discovery Company. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. Some of those images can be seen immediately below: Bottom alleges the group of officers arrested her unreasonably when they grabbed [her] by her hair and threw her from her Toyota Sequoia to the ground., As a result, the librarian claims, she was seriously injured due to the excessive force of the arrest, which resulted in a tear to her rotator cuff in her shoulder. This injury, according to the lawsuit, required surgery, permanently scarring and limiting the use of [Bottoms] shoulder.. 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