Officers with the Rowan County Sheriffs 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. She is hard working, hard charging and highly professional. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. 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. The Charlotte Observer reported Stephanie Bottom, an Atlanta native and librarian, filed her lawsuit on April 21 and claimed a group of white officers used excessive force when they pulled her over. Show our community and nation that law enforcement who enforce the law, must also abide by the same law.. We found 17 records for people named Stephanie Austin in 17 cities in North Carolina throughout Raleigh, Olin, and 15 more cities! 2. (Hicks, Samantha), CASE REFERRED to Mediation pursuant to Local Rule 83.9b of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of this Court. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed, attorney Ian Mance told the Observer. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. Updated When officers approached her car, their firearms were drawn. 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. Her lawsuit was immediately referred to mediation due to local court rules, according to Law & Crime. DEPUTY MARK BENFIELD, OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW, OFFICER ADAM BOUK, CITY OF SALISBURY, SHERIFF KEVIN AUTEN and PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Set Deadlines: PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY answer due 7/23/2021. North Carolina Video shows NC police grabbing 66-year-old librarian by hair, pulling her from car By Ames Alexander. The officers also say it could've been a simple traffic stop before putting the onus of the current incident on her. By Stephanie Hubler | Feb. 23 Send Stephanie Bottom said she was driving to North Carolina for a funeral when she was pulled over for suspected speeding. The lawsuit alleges that earlier in the stop, Barkalow also said Bottom was a'f*****g retard' and a 'douche bag.'. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Have a good Sunday!: Elon Musk posts Tweet hours after sacking 200 MORE Twitter staff slashing work force to less than 2000 as top lieutenant who led the blue tick relaunch is among casualties, 'Why isn't he being prosecuted?' Once on the ground, officers twisted Bottom's arm behind her back, causing her 'shoulder to 'pop,' tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury,' the lawsuit said. Download our newest episodes now! She is seeking punitive damages, compensatory damages, attorneys fees and other costs from the state defendantsas well as injunctive and declaratory relief that prohibits similar treatment against citizens in the future based on the idea that the officers actions were in violation of the Fourth Amendments prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. 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. 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. 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. 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 Interstate 85 as she was traveling to her aunts funeral in Raleigh in May 2019. 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. A subscription to PACER is required. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- A University of North Carolina student used some area knowledge to advance in Jeopardy's High School Reunion Tournament. The officers pulled Bottom's arms behind her back while she shrieked in pain as sirens blared in the background, according to the footage. Ms. I was shaking in fear, Bottom said in an interview with the Charlotte Observer. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. area to pull over, according to her lawsuit filed in federal court on Wednesday. She was stopped for driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone and for failing to heed blue lights. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- A University of North Carolina student used some area knowledge to advance in Jeopardy's High School Reunion Tournament. 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. The clip which has been released after Bottom filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday begins with Deputy Mark Benfield approaching Bottoms car with his gun drawn before grabbing her hair and dragging her to the ground. 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. Close. 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 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. 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. WebWho is Stephanie Bottom? 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. McElroy told the newspaper that 'the Salisbury Police always strives for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where we may suspect criminal activity.'. WebYou can view 1 entry, complete with personal details, location history, phone numbers, relatives and locations for Stephanie Love. Johnston County Schools phase in weapons detection system, Duke Energy Carolinas seeks large rate increases for gas costs, Police salaries not helping fix staffing shortage challenges, Artemis Moshtaghian, Melissa Alonso and Amanda Jackson. Read More: NC governor calls for release of bodycam video in Andrew Brown killing. We are all complicit in its harms. Emancipate NC 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. appreciated. WebStephanie is a creative chef who has turned growing up in the South into the soul of her restaurant, Sweet Potatoes. Select this result to view Stephanie Leigh Walls's phone number, address, and more. But officers approached her vehicle with guns drawn and later violated her rights by using excessive force, the lawsuit said. The suit was filed in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina. Get notified of updates. Within seconds of the stop, cops are seendragged her out of the car by her hair, and pulling her arm behind her back to handcuff her, all while she screams out in pain. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. WebBlack librarian Stephanie Bottom pulled by hair, injured by police in Salisbury, North Carolina, lawsuit says. Ms. Posted by 10 months ago. 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. #3 in North Carolina. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. The officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop, as Bottom was allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone. 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. Here's why. The just-released body cam video Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunts funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes Posted by 10 months ago. the officer responds. ', 'Won't somebody think of the fentanyl dealers?' An attorney for Bottom said his client was peaceful at all times during the encounter and accused officers of disregarding the fact that they were dealing with an elderly woman. Bottom insists to the white officers that she was unaware she was being told to pull over due to loud music in her car. (Hicks, Samantha), Case ASSIGNED to JUDGE WILLIAM L. OSTEEN, JR and MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE. See the links below for more info. A 68-year-old Atlanta librarian is suing police in Salisbury, North Carolina, claiming excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop. At one point, she begged for medical attention, as well for an opportunity to call her family. Subscribe to Justia's Free Newsletters featuring summaries of federal and state court opinions. San Francisco's woke public defender is slammed for condemning plans to deport opioid pushers, Do you wish you were taller? Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman, said Ian Mance, a lawyer with EmancipateNC who is representing Bottom, according to CBS News. May 11, 2021 | Criminal Justice Reform, Emancipate NC News, Policing. Born in North Carolina, Chef Tyson spent countless hours dreaming of leaving for the bright lights of anywhere else. This docket was last retrieved on June 15, 2021. 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 I didn't know you guys were chasing after me. 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. An elderly black librarian was viciously yanked out of her car by her hair by a white officer and held at gunpoint during a traffic stop in North Carolina, newly released bodycam footage shows. Filter by City. 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. Close. 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. quickly enough, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. WebStunningly Stephanie is a professional Logistics and Consulting business that supports federal, state and local government, private, for-profit and non-profit organizations. The mainstream narrative that criminalizes Black and Brown people must be transformedso that we can all get free. 'I was shaking in fear,' Bottom said to the Observer. In her lawsuit, Bottom allegestwo separate violations of the 4th and 14th Amendments, as well as assault and battery. Bottom says. McElroy also declined to comment on the pending litigation. It was a simple traffic stop, an officer tells Bottom. [emailprotected]. Derek Chauvin trial juror details courtroom experience, deliberations: 'You're watching somebody die on a daily basis'. It is an absolute pleasure to know her and have worked with her.. As is standard, we are unable to comment on pending litigation.. Bodycam footage from the incident shows officers approach Bottom's vehicle with guns drawn. Instead, she was handcuffed and the officers searched her car and purse without consent, warrant, or probable cause, which violated Bottoms Fourth Amendment rights, according to the lawsuit. During this time, Bouk is heard on the body camera footage saying, "That's good police work baby" to other officers, according to the suit. In May 2019, a 68-year-old Black woman named Stephanie Bottom was pulled over by officers from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and the Salisbury Police Access this case on the North Carolina Middle District Court's Electronic Court Filings (ECF) System. Docket action in the case was quick, however, and there may not be much of any precedent as a result of the lawsuit. "Why are you doing this to me? Bottom is heard telling officers. Have a tip we should know? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. After the search, officers told Bottom to stand, but she said she couldnt due to the pain in her shoulder, according to the suit. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. Email Address Here. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman,' said Ian Mance, a lawyer with EmancipateNC who represents Bottom. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. She said she also experienced extreme terror. I was getting ready to die. Traveling north on I-85, she eventually noticed the The force applied by the officers caused Bottom's "shoulder to 'pop,' tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury," according to the lawsuit. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. An officer declined the request, but paramedics later took Bottom to a hospital, the Charlotte Observer reported. I did nothing wrong.. A more recent docket listing 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. The other officers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bottom, now 68, said she was driving to Raleigh for a funeral in May 2019 when she was pulled over for suspected speeding and failing to heed blue lights, the Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Prison is state-sponsored violence. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. 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. Norfolk State Spartans (20-8, 9-3 MEAC) at North Carolina Central Eagles (15-11, 8-4 MEAC) Durham, North Carolina; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State plays the North Carolina Central 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. 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 The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that I was going to die.'. 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. We are a certified North Carolina Small Business. In a statement cited in theGrio, President of the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP chapter Gemale Black succinctly summarized the injustice inflicted on Stephanie Bottom: This week, we watched as a 2019 traffic stop video surfaced of officers from Rowan County Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department using excessive force to arrest Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year-old Black librarian from AtlantaUnprofessional conduct, inappropriate comments, and excessive force use negatively impacts police-citizen relationships. Bottom had surgery to repair the tear but the injury prevents her from raising her left arm above her head, according to the suit. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that Im going to die.. The injury reportedly kept the now-68-year-old woman out of work for eight months and left her shaking in fear, she said. All Rights Reserved. "Ma'am, there was about four police cars behind you at one point in time," the officer responds. 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A pirate at heart, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Political Science at East Carolina University. (919) 682-1149, allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone, The four officers involved in the incident, Durham DSS Slow to Reunify Kids with Families, Catch the Latest from Black Light Mass Incarceration Show, Join a Virtual Listening Session on the Harms of Solitary Confinement, RPD Releases Bodycam Footage of Darryl Williams Murder. Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested. According to an ABC 7 News article, Bottom 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.. [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. Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested.. 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. According to the Charlotte Observer, video shows an officer telling Bottom that EMS would look at her approximately 11 minutes after the stop, after which she was taken to a local hospital. Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunt's funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes The officers are then seen pinning both of her arms behind her back to put handcuffs on Bottom. 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. The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. She pleaded guilty to failure to heed blue lights and the other charges against her were dismissed. PO Box 309 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.
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