The City of Long Beach has reached a settlement of $300,000 in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought forth by a prostate cancer patient. The patient, Johnny Jackson, alleged that he was subjected to excessive force by a police officer during an arrest for driving with an expired registration. The incident took place on September 3, 2022. The Long Beach city council approved the settlement earlier this week.
According to Jackson’s attorneys, the blows delivered to his groin during the arrest resulted in severe pain and blood in his urine, leading to emergency medical complications. Jackson’s security camera and an officer’s body-worn camera captured the incident. It started with Jackson being closely followed by an unmarked Long Beach Police vehicle as he returned home from Staples, where he had made a copy of a doctor’s note.
As Jackson pulled into his driveway, he was approached by three officers. Recognizing the suspicious nature of the encounter, Jackson informed the officers about his recent surgery and acknowledged the registration infraction on his vehicle. The situation escalated when a gust of wind blew pages from the doctor’s report off his vehicle. As Jackson attempted to retrieve them, one of the officers jumped off his porch, grabbed him, and forcefully twisted his left arm, according to Jackson’s account.
Jackson’s attorneys allege that the officers grabbed his arms and pulled them in opposite directions. Additionally, one of the officers kneed him in the groin three times with significant force after another officer hit Jackson in the head and attempted a takedown maneuver. Despite Jackson’s lack of resistance, he was handcuffed, placed in a patrol car, and given citations for expired vehicle registration and purportedly resisting arrest.
In response to the settlement, civil rights attorney Patrick Buelna called for an apology from the city to Jackson, stating, No one should have to endure such a humiliating and painful experience at the hands of what are supposed to be public servants.
This incident highlights the importance of addressing excessive use of force allegations and ensuring that law enforcement officers are held accountable for their actions. The settlement provides compensation to Jackson for the physical and emotional trauma he endured during the arrest. The City of Long Beach’s decision to settle the lawsuit brings a resolution to this civil rights case.
