Close. In a statement to the media, the Salisbury Police Department said it was unable to comment on pending litigation but that it strives "for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where (police) may suspect criminal activity.". Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, the officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground, according to body camera footage. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Browse Locations. Benfield and a second cop, Officer Devin Barkalow, then struggle to put handcuffs on Bottom while she lies face-down on the side of the roadway, according to the footage. The video shows Stephanie Bottom, 66, repeatedly pleading with Salisbury police officers and Rowan County sheriffs deputies to tell her why they stopped her on Interstate 85 as she was traveling to her aunts funeral in Raleigh in May 2019. Meanwhile, the Salisbury Police Department did not comment on the pending litigation but stated that it strives for positive interactions with our residents and visitors, including in cases where we may suspect criminal activity., Get the Latest Black News and Press Releases In Your Email FREE, Your Find Stephanie Bottoms's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. An elderly black librarian was viciously yanked out of her car by her hair by a white officer and held at gunpoint during a traffic stop in North Carolina, newly released bodycam footage shows. One of the officers tells Bottom that three police cruisers had been behind her for about 10 miles trying to get her to pull over for allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone and failing to heed officers sirens. An officer tells her she refused to stop for law enforcement. 'I was getting ready to die. WebStephanie Monroe in North Carolina. One of the officers named in the lawsuit, Barkalow, declined to comment, but said he no longer works for the police department. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Have a good Sunday!: Elon Musk posts Tweet hours after sacking 200 MORE Twitter staff slashing work force to less than 2000 as top lieutenant who led the blue tick relaunch is among casualties, 'Why isn't he being prosecuted?' A 68-year-old Atlanta librarian is suing police in Salisbury, North Carolina, claiming excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop. 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Ms. Bottom wasn't even arrested.'. As she was handcuffed on the side of the road, the officers searched her vehicle and purse without her consent, a warrant, or probable cause which violated Bottom's Fourth Amendment rights, the lawsuit says. WebWho is Stephanie Bottom? 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunt's funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes told CNN on Tuesday. Bodycam footage from the incident shows officers approach Bottom's vehicle with guns drawn. After the search, officers told Bottom to stand, but she said she couldn't due to the pain in her shoulder, according to the suit. The Gamecocks responded in the bottom of the seventh with sacrifice plays by Petry and sophomore catcher Talmadge LeCroy. "Because I didn't know they were going after me!" Bottom sued on Wednesday alleging two separate violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, assault and battery, and a local statutory violation against Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. But officers approached her vehicle with guns drawn and later violated her rights by using excessive force, the lawsuit said. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. WebStephanie Fields in North Carolina 47 people named Stephanie Fields found in Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point and 12 other cities. I was getting ready to die. While following behind Plaintiff, Defendant [, limiting the use of [Bottoms] shoulder.. The officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop, as Bottom was allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone. Show our community and nation that law enforcement who enforce the law, must also abide by the same law.. She appeared in court for the traffic violations, pleaded responsible to failure to heed blue lights, and the other charges against her were dismissed, according to the lawsuit. Ms. Body cam footage shows that in a matter of a few seconds, Bottom appears to be taken out of the car by force and pinned to the ground, with her face down and officers pushing on her arm. It also claims that the officers congratulated one other for their work and an officer identified in the lawsuit as Barkalow is heard bragging about grabbing a handful of dreads, saying at that point she earned it.. All Rights Reserved. We found 17 records for people named Stephanie Austin in 17 cities in North Carolina throughout Raleigh, Olin, and 15 more cities! After allegedly pulling her out of her car by her hair, Bottom was left on the ground. According to WBTV, community members want more from the Salisbury Police and Rowan Sheriff. In a statement cited in theGrio, President of the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP chapter Gemale Black succinctly summarized the injustice inflicted on Stephanie Bottom: This week, we watched as a 2019 traffic stop video surfaced of officers from Rowan County Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department using excessive force to arrest Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year-old Black librarian from AtlantaUnprofessional conduct, inappropriate comments, and excessive force use negatively impacts police-citizen relationships. By Stephanie Hubler | Feb. 23 Send Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. What have I done wrong?. Law enforcements handling of the situation was captured on body cameras, and images of their initial approach were included as exhibits in the lawsuit. When Bottom didn't immediately pull over, one of the officers making the traffic stop identified in the lawsuit as Salisbury Police Officer Devin Barkalow made statements recorded by his body camera that Bottom was a "f**king retard" and a "douche bag," according to the body camera footage. Business class plane passenger refuses to give up his seat so a man could sit next to his wife on her birthday - selfish or fair enough? Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. CNN has reached out to Rowan County Sheriff's Department for comment but has not yet heard back. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, the officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground, according to body camera footage. 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Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the US Court's PACER system. Phone Number: The post 68-year-old woman sues NC police for violent traffic stop recorded on body camera appeared first on TheGrio. 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Nationwide Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year old Black woman from Raleigh, North Carolina, has filed a lawsuit claiming that police officers used excessive force on Black librarian Stephanie Bottom pulled by hair, injured by police in Salisbury, North Carolina, lawsuit says. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She had to undergo surgery but it did not fully repair her shoulder and it now has permanent damage, the lawsuit stated. Video footage captured by body cameras worn by the officers prove Bottoms claims of physical harm. Officers issued Bottom a summons, charging her with speeding failure to heed blue lights, and resisting, delaying, and obstructing an officer for allegedly refusing to get out of her vehicle and pulling away from the officer, according to the lawsuit. Charges against her for speeding and resisting arrest were dismissed. Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunt's funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes As Rowan County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Benfield and Barkalow approached her vehicle they had their guns drawn and pointed at her, according to the lawsuit. Stephanie F. Newby is a Neurologist in Charlotte, NC. We've received your submission. 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North Carolina the only state allowing unnecessary killing of sea turtles (3) 'Pagan' bike gang leader in N. Carolina sentenced to prison (3) Deputy cleared in shooting death of Gloucester woman (3) When she came to a stop, she says cops rushed toward her with guns drawn. The then-66-year-old librarian from Fulton County, Georgia, was listening to music and didn't initially see the flashing blue lights coming from the police vehicle behind her, Holmes said. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, officers grabbed the by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground. 'Why are you doing this to me,' she asks. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, officers grabbed the by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground. 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. A 66-year-old librarian is suing police in North Carolina for allegedly using excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop in which she says she was thrown to the ground. Bottom said all of the arresting officers were white. Bottom suffered a rotator cuff injury in her shoulder as a result of the officers violence. [Law enforcements] decision ultimately to release her to medical care, instead of keeping her in police custody, demonstrates that he initial decision to take her into custody was unreasonable.. She appeared in court for the traffic violations, pleaded responsible to failure to heed blue lights, and the other charges against her were dismissed, according to the lawsuit. During this time, Bouk is heard on the body camera footage saying, "That's good police work baby" to other officers, according to the suit. Durham, NC 27702 The suit alleges that in his official capacity he approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.. ', 'Won't somebody think of the fentanyl dealers?' Officers Barkalow and Bouk picked up by her arms, inflicting additional pain to her shoulder, forced her to stand and put her in the back of a patrol car, according to the lawsuit. (Garland, Leah), Motion Referred: RE: #3 APPLICATION to Proceed IFP to MAG/JUDGE JOI ELIZABETH PEAKE. Bottom had surgery to repair the tear, but she still cannot raise her left arm above her head. An attorney for Bottom said his client was peaceful at all times during the encounter and accused officers of disregarding the fact that they were dealing with an elderly woman. 23 South Carolina baseball team continued its unbeaten start to the 2023 season in an 11-3 victory over North Carolina A&T Tuesday afternoon at Founders Park. Within seconds of arriving at her drivers side door, the officers grabbed Bottom by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground, according to body camera footage. By Associated Press and Holden Walter-warner For Dailymail.com, Published: 21:04 EST, 22 April 2021 | Updated: 13:58 EST, 23 April 2021. Traveling north on I-85, she eventually noticed the blue lights of a Sheriff Deputys vehicle and began looking for a safe area to pull over, according to her lawsuit filed in federal court on Wednesday. It also claims that the officers congratulated one other for their work and an officer identified in the lawsuit as Barkalow is heard bragging about grabbing a "handful of dreads," saying "at that point she earned it.". 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston says Trump's Make America Great Again slogan is RACIST and asks 'when was it ever great for the African American? They have also lived in Willow Spring, NC and Raleigh, NC. Millions of Americans are being kept in the dark about toxic trains rumbling through their neighborhoods as railroad companies refuse to disclose which carry hazardous loads. Posted by 10 months ago. She received medical attention only after about an hour. Read More: Police video shows officer using stun gun on handcuffed man. quickly enough, the lawsuit alleges. Officers Barkalow and Adam Bouk and Deputy Mark Benfield then quickly approached with their guns drawn. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Tracking the drought: Map shows conditions across SF Bay Area, Artemis Moshtaghian, Melissa Alonso and Amanda Jackson, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7. Once it became clear they wanted her to pull over she was afraid and was looking for a safe place to pull over, Holmes told CNN in an email. The injury reportedly kept the now-68-year-old woman out of work for eight months and left her shaking in fear, she said. WebThe woman, Stephanie Bottom of Atlanta, who is Black, said she was driving to a funeral and posing no threat to the officers when they stopped her on Interstate 85 for driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. 2001-2023 Dante Lee International | All Rights Reserved. The actions of officers who abuse their power makes it hard for individuals to trust law enforcement. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and the Salisbury Police Department were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on Bottom, alleging she was driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone, according to the suit. Find Dr. Newby's phone number, address, hospital affiliations and more. 'Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. WebI would highly recommend Stephanie. 2. Click a location below to find Stephanie more easily. During this time, Bouk is heard on the body camera footage saying, Thats good police work baby to other officers, according to the suit. The Atlanta-based librarian was allegedly assaulted by cops in 2019, during a traffic stop. She claimed she had her music turned up and couldnt hear the police sirens behind her. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. As she was handcuffed on the side of the road, the officers searched her vehicle and purse without her consent, a warrant, or probable cause which violated Bottoms Fourth Amendment rights, the lawsuit says. "Once it became clear they wanted her to pull over she was afraid and was looking for a safe place to pull over," Holmes told CNN in an email. The actions of officers who abuse their power makes it hard for individuals to trust law enforcement. Four law enforcement officers are named in the federal lawsuit filed in US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. 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