Vallejo Police Officer That Punched Maiya Green Had History of Force Complaints

VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA (October 19, 2023) – A 19-year-old woman identified as Maiya Green was violently attacked by a Vallejo police officer that had a history of violent incidents with suspects.

Solano County officials are saying that the incident began on Friday. A business in the Gateway Shopping Plaza made a call about a burglary to the Vallejo Police Department.

Officers began to pursue a suspect that they believed may have been involved in the burglary. The pursuit came to an end when a Nissan was involved in a collision with a truck.

In a video of the aftermath posted to TikTok, a Vallejo police officer identified as Colin Eaton can be seen violently pulling Maiya Green out of the Nissan.

The officer proceeds to slam the teenager against a cement truck before taking her to the ground. Once he firmly pins her to the ground, he can be seen throwing a punch at the victim’s head.

Maiya Green was arrested after the attack and taken to jail. Vallejo officer Colin Eaton has been involved in several other use-of-force incidents.

According to Open Vallejo, he was one of six officers involved in the killing of 20-year-old musician Willie McCoy. Just nine weeks after that incident, he and another officer violently arrested the niece of Willie  McCoy.

In 2020, Colin Eaton was suspended for 80 hours without pay for telling a man “I will fuck you up,” while holding a baton. He then placed his boot on the man’s head for roughly 90 seconds.

 

Liability For Excessive Force By Vallejo Police Officers

More and more woman are being threatened or attacked by police officers each year. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “Women accounted for an alarming 31% of all people experiencing the threat or use of force by police, and over half of women (51%) who experienced threat or use of force in their most recent police interaction reported that such conduct by police was “excessive,” a result which is up a significant 8 percentage points from the last survey in 2018.” Women of color have been disproportionately affected by police violence. Police misconduct can come in a variety of different forms.

• Excessive Force: This may include instances where police officers use physical violence against suspects that are already restrained or subdued.
• Racial Profiling: There have been many instances where police officers have targeted suspects based on their race or appearance. This has resulted in many unjustified stops, searches and harassment.
• Shooting Unarmed Suspects: Lethal force should only be used as a measure of last resort. But in far too many situations, police officers shoot suspects that are either unarmed or attempting to flee.
• In-Custody Deaths: Once the state assumes control of a person’s autonomy by arresting them, the suspect must be provided with proper care. However, many people each year die in custody due to jail medical neglect.

Police officers must always use the least amount of force necessary to complete their objectives. Despite this, it is common for officers to hit or strike suspects in an unlawful manner. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. Victims of police brutality often suffer very serious and costly injuries including:

• Head injuries
• Broken bones
• Organ damage
• Gunshot wounds
• Death

Even after a victim’s physical injuries have healed, many victims of police brutality often suffer very serious psychological injuries. In particular, victims may be left with long-term PTSD. This can manifest in a variety of different ways including recurring nightmares, anxiety and depression. It is so important that victims of police brutality understand that they do have rights. They do have the ability to hold their assailant responsible through a civil action.

 

Investigating Police Brutality Involving Vallejo Police Officers

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to Maiya Green as she continues to recover from this violent assault. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. The Vallejo Police Department should not employ officers who seek to continually abuse their authority. These officers represent a danger to the public and the very integrity of the police as an institution.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the excessive force of Vallejo police officers? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to getting victims of police brutality the medical support and financial compensation that they are entitled to under the law. In fact, we focus exclusively on helping people who have been harmed by law enforcement. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at  (949) 825-5200.