The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is facing a lawsuit that alleges the use of violent and risky tactics during traffic stops involving suspected stolen vehicles. Community Coalition, Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, and Sheilanee Sen are among the plaintiffs in the case.
Sen, who previously sued the LAPD over a February 2020 incident, claimed that she and her friend, Shibani Balsaver, were pulled over based on mistaken beliefs that they were driving a stolen U-Haul. Balsaver recounted a harrowing experience during a press conference, stating that officers forced her to kneel in the middle of the street while pointing guns at her. Sen expressed how this encounter has left her fearful and anxious while driving.
Bilal Muhammad also shared his traumatic encounter with the LAPD during a traffic stop in November 2022, emphasizing that he was treated like a violent criminal despite having done nothing wrong.
Attorney Rebecca Brown, from the law firm Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai, highlighted that these traffic stops mostly involve unarmed individuals. She stated the stops not only pose dangers and inefficiencies for public safety but are also illegal. Attorneys emphasized that the LAPD typically dispatches multiple officers and a helicopter to the scene, holding individuals at gunpoint. They cited LAPD statistics revealing that 74% of the vehicles stopped for suspected theft were not actually stolen. Additionally, they referred to a 2014 ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, which deemed these tactics unconstitutional.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore responded to the accusations by stating that the department’s practices are constitutional and prioritize the safety of everyone involved. As the lawsuit remains ongoing, the LAPD will address the allegations in an appropriate setting.
The case against the LAPD raises concerns about the use of excessive force and the potentially unconstitutional nature of their tactics during traffic stops. With public interest focused on police conduct, this lawsuit underscores the need to prioritize effective and lawful resolution strategies.
