With JT reporting on 2 new Federal Lawsuits being filed against City of Racine, in which Taxpayers will be forced to pay all costs if the City loses or settles, It seems prudent to take a look at the Docket of the Federal Court. But first….
Water employee suing city for racial discrimination
RACINE
— A Racine Water Utility employee filed a civil action lawsuit against
the City of Racine alleging that he was discriminated against based on
his race and physical disability from an injury sustained on the job.
Shannon McDonald, of McDonald and Kloth, LLC. which represents Endel
Williams, said the goal was to improve working conditions for minorities
at the City.
“The goal is to stop the discrimination and harassment that’s been
happening at the city,” said McDonald. “Not just for Mr. Williams but
for all city employees who experience this type of bias.”
The City has not yet filed its defense but the City Attorney’s office released the following statement:
“The City of Racine is aware that Racine Water Utility employee Endel
Williams has filed a lawsuit against the City. The City disputes the
allegations in the Complaint and will vigorously defend this action.”
Allegations of racism
Williams, who is black, started working as a construction worker with the water department in February 2007.
According to the complaint filed on Aug. 14, by Williams’ legal
representation, he “became aware” that his supervisor made racially
derogatory remarks about him, such as referring to Williams as a
“(n-word)” and the “Mayor’s Token (n-word).”
In August 2015, the general manager disciplined Williams for being
insubordinate to his supervisor. Williams objected and later that month
lodged a complaint to the City alleging the City had discriminated
against him and harassed him due to his race.
Williams claims that at that time he made the general manager aware
of the racist remarks his supervisor made about him and other blacks in
the workplace.
RACINE
— A Racine man filed a lawsuit in federal court last month, alleging
that a Racine Police officer punched him while he was in the midst of a
diabetic seizure.
Man sues, alleging Racine police officer hit him during diabetic seizure
RACINE
— A Racine man filed a lawsuit in federal court last month, alleging
that a Racine Police officer punched him while he was in the midst of a
diabetic seizure.
A March 12 federal lawsuit filed by Tyran Pinkins, 34, names the City
of Racine, Racine Police Officer Joshua Diedrich and five other unknown
Racine Police officers, as defendants in the suit.
According to court documents, the lawsuit stems from an Oct. 6, 2016,
incident. On that evening, RPD Officer Diedrich was flagged down near
the intersection of State Street and Lake Avenue by a person trying to
get emergency medical care for Pinkins.
Diedrich called for a rescue squad stating that Pinkins was having a
seizure. During the encounter, the officer asked Pinkins questions to
which Pinkins did not respond.
When Pinkins began to sway toward the road and walk away, the officer
took hold him. The court document alleges that Pinkins began to
uncontrollably flail around due to a diabetic seizure, causing the
officer to tackle him.
The lawsuit alleges that during the encounter, the officer punched
Pinkins in the face multiple times with a closed fist causing Pinkins
“permanent injuries” to his vision, jaw and teeth.
Pinkins believes the officer’s punches were deadly force, and were
“excessive and done with a reckless and/or callous disregard for the
Plaintiff’s rights,” filing documents state.
As a result of the encounter, Pinkins was hospitalized. After he was
released, on Oct. 7, 2016, he was arrested and charged with battery to a
law enforcement officer, attempt to disarm a peace officer, resisting
or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct.
RACINE
— Nearly six hours of body cam footage of the arrest of a Racine Police
sergeant accused of OWI and hit-and-run causing injury was released
last week, after The Journal Times made an open records request with the
Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
Second incident
As part of the lawsuit, Pinkins mentions a second incident that
allegedly occurred on Oct. 29, 2017. At the time, Pinkins was homeless
and living at HALO, 2000 DeKoven Ave.
Pinkins was listening to headphones during overnight hours when
another person complained that Pinkins was listening to his music too
loudly. The woman then called police.
When Racine Police arrived, Pinkins was in the bathroom. He claims
that police barged into the restroom and began yelling at him, who was
somewhat disoriented. Pinkins says Racine Police deployed a Taser on him
which had to later be surgically removed from his back.
Court documents state that Pinkins alleges that Racine Police may
have remembered him from the earlier encounter, which is why, he
believes, that he was Tasered.
Not quite sure where this one will go, But RPD Sgt. Sam Stulo insists
he didndu nuffin’ and should have been released to his wife with no
charges…..
With video: Body cam footage of Racine Police sergeant’s arrest obtained
RACINE
— Nearly six hours of body cam footage of the arrest of a Racine Police
sergeant accused of OWI and hit-and-run causing injury was released
last week, after The Journal Times made an open records request with the
Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
The footage shows Racine Police Sgt. Samuel Stulo speaking with a
Racine County Sheriff’s deputy after the crash, with a visibly swollen
chin and raspy voice saying he got punched in the throat.
Stulo admits going to a local bar for “two or three beers,” and said
he wasn’t sure if he hit a car because he was on his phone. “I don’t
know if I hit it (the car),” Stulo says. “I was on my phone, you know
how we are, looking at our phones.”
The video shows Stulo attempting various field sobriety tests.
According to a Racine County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Stulo
failed the field sobriety test after he reportedly crashed his truck
into a parked car on State Street, injuring a woman just before 8 p.m.
on Dec. 17.
Footage shows Stulo explain to deputies that he has a bad hip and
back, which is why he can’t perform well on the tests. “You guys are
setting me up to fail,” Stulo says in the video.
“This is what we do for everybody,” a deputy replies.
“I’m not everybody,” Stulo responds.
When a deputy presents a portable Breathalyzer, Stulo says “I’m not
doing that.” He then asks for a lawyer and is arrested. “You guys could
have took me home,” Stulo said, as he is put into the back of a deputy
squad car. “I would have took the accident and moved on.”
Squad car footage
Footage from the squad car shows Stulo repeatedly asking for a lawyer
and stating that he failed his field sobriety testing due to medical
issues.
“All you guys had to do was just let my wife take me home, man,”
Stulo said. “It’s not going to stick with my back and my hip problems.
It’s not going to stick. I got so much medical documentation, it’s not
going to stick.”
When the deputy asked if he could perform a blood draw, Stulo said he
would not do anything without speaking with a lawyer first. “I’m not
consenting to s**t,” Stulo is heard saying. “I’m not consenting to
nothing.”
Nearly two hours after the crash, Stulo’s blood-alcohol content was
later found to be 0.182 percent, more than two times the legal limit,
state records show.
The Journal Times received the results through an open records
request filed with the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, which
conducts blood-alcohol tests for the state.
“I just lost everything … I respect what you guys are doing, but I just lost it all,” Stulo said.
At the hospital
The footage also shows deputies taking Stulo into the hospital. As he
is being led in, Stulo continues to ask to walk on his own and for a
lawyer. “You really want to do this, huh?” Stulo said.
At one point, Stulo appears to become agitated and ask deputies to
get off of him. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t want to feel like a
f***ing criminal, man,” Stulo said.
So now it’s time to check out the Federal Court Docket for City of Racine; from PACER:
So now it’s time to check out the Federal Court Docket for City of Racine; from PACER:
Only 2 Federal cases open – WELL, THAT’S A HUGE IMPROVEMENT from the years of the Dickert Disaster!
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