A California man was just awarded nearly $575,000 after he says his civil rights were violated by gaggle of homophobic police officers.
Gustavo Alvarez of Palo, Alto reached a settlement with the city to receive $572,500 after police kicked down Alvarez’s front door, pointed a gun at him, beat him until he bled, knocked loose one of his teeth, and then arrested him without probable cause back in February.
Mercury News reports:
On Feb. 17, 2018, Officer Christopher Conde approached Alvarez in the driveway of his mobile home in Palo Alto, according to the suit. Conde told Alvarez he had observed his vehicle on the road earlier that day and was detaining him for driving with a suspended driver’s license, the 77-page complaint states.
When Alvarez pressed the officer, he admitted he could not confirm Alvarez was behind the wheel of the vehicle. Hearing that, Alvarez entered his home and closed the door behind him, according to the lawsuit.
Conde then called additional officers to the scene, informing them that Alvarez was wanted for driving with a suspended license and resisting an officer, the suit states.
When the four additional officers arrived, the situation escalated into a “full-fledged attack on Alvarez and his family’s residence,” the suit states.
Alvarez was taken a jail and charged with driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, and resisting an officer. After spending two weeks in custody, he was released and the charges were dropped after it was determined there was no evidence to support them.
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Alvarez says he believes the assault was motivated by antigay animus. As part of the settlement, the officer who led the attack will must also attend an LGBTQ awareness law enforcement course and, upon completion, lead a two-hour LGBTQ awareness training program for all the other officers in his department.
San Jose attorney Cody Salfen says she believes the case will lead to better relationships between police and the communities they serve.
“This case isn’t going to change the culture within the department overnight,” she said. “But this settlement is definitely a starting point. It sends a message to every one of those officers that there is a problem and the time to change it is now.”
Meanwhile, the city and police department issued a statement saying they only settled with Alvarez to “minimize the burden and expense of federal litigation.”
“While the City and Police Department sharply dispute the vast majority of Mr. Alvarez’ claims and have deep concerns about Mr. Alvarez’ continuing criminal behavior, the City believes that this resolution is in the best interests of all involved,” the statement said.
Alvarez’s suit is at least the fourth time in recent years that the Palo Alto Police Department has been accused of using excessive force.
Related: Officer forced to retire over assault allegations of gay man will collect $118,600 pension
Chrisk
My only problem with that is Alverez decided to evade the cops and decided to run and barricade himself in his house. All he had to do was pull over and deal with it.
Still the cop that threw him against the car was wrong and needed suspending.
GetMeets.com
It’s a good news!
But I’m not sure if gays really exist!
How can you not like a beautiful female body?
If you think you are gay, just go to the page that appears in my nickname! This is a world famous social network, I am sure that there will be free girls from your area! Just copy my nickname ?
Waiting for you there.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Not only did Alvarez bring that upon himself this sends the wrong message to drunk gay men that you don’t have to obey the orders of a police officer. A police officer is no different than any of us who has had to deal with a queen who is either drunk or high off of something and insists things are going to go their way no matter what and have to be convinced otherwise (in my case it was in a bar and I had to floor that queen). I hope the city appeals this verdict and it gets reduced by at least ninety-five percent. Were I on that jury or were it my decision to make I would have awarded him the same amount of money the jury got for having to sit thru this foolishness.