“It’s an 8-minute-long video, five of the minutes are just him sitting there sobbing and crying, and I think that really tells the whole story in terms of why was force necessary in that situation? And I think the real easy answer is that it’s not,” said Sisson.
A Michigan man has filed a lawsuit against the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, demanding more than $15 million after he says that his civil rights were violated during a routine traffic stop.
According to CBS News, the incident occurred when Livingston County deputies stopped plaintiff Mark Frazier near the mid-Michigan city of Howell for allegedly driving with a suspended license. Frazier, who the lawsuit claims was trying to sell eggs door-to-door, was purportedly told to exit his car, then forcefully removed when he refused to comply.
Officers later stated that they were not originally planning to detain Frazier for driving with a suspended license but made the decision after he failed to comply with their commands.
Attorneys for Frazier, in contrast, say that their client became overwhelmed during the stop and was left unable to respond due to a medical condition that causes him to “freeze when under extreme stress.”
Frazier was ultimately taken into custody.
“It’s a tale of two different police officers. It’s a tale of one who’s trying to do the right thing, one that clearly understands that he’s having an emotional breakdown, that something’s not right with him, and then you have the other officer, which is the one who’s being sued,” said Mark Sisson, an attorney representing Frazier in the case.
Sisson said that, during the traffic stop, a second officer attempted to climb through the passenger side of his client’s vehicle. The second officer then proceeded to repeatedly strike Frazier, breaking his knee.
“Anybody who watches that video … it’s more sad than anything we’re talking about, a 57-year-old guy who has a mental problem who’s crying, asking for his mom, you know he’s not threatening to hurt anybody or anything,” Sisson said.
Frazier received treatment for the fracture at Trinity Health Livingston Hospital, but he continues to feel the physical effects of the broken knee. He is now seeking $15 million for physical injuries and pain and suffering. Sisson told CBS News that he thinks the officers’ body-camera footage will tell the entire story.
“It’s an 8-minute-long video, five of the minutes are just him sitting there sobbing and crying, and I think that really tells the whole story in terms of why was force necessary in that situation? And I think the real easy answer is that it’s not,” said Sisson.
CBS News Detroit reports that it spoke with Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy, who said that his department stands behinds its deputies but cannot comment on pending litigation.
Sources
Frazier v. Livingston County Sheriff’s Office et al
Michigan man files $15 million lawsuit against Livingston County Sheriff’s Office after traffic stop
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