Woman Slammed Against Truck, Punched In Face During Arrest By Vallejo Police Officer
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA (October 14, 2023) – A viral Tiktok video shows a Vallejo police officer slam and punch a woman before arresting her after a police pursuit.
The incident began on Friday. A business near Gateway Plaza Shopping Center reported a burglary to the Vallejo Police Department. Officers followed a suspect which then led to a police pursuit.
The pursuit ended when the suspect crashed into a truck by Auto Mall Pkwy and Admiral Callaghan Lane. A video posted to Tiktok shows a Vallejo officer pull the woman out of her vehicle and slam her against a semi-truck.
She is then dragged to the ground and punched in the face. The woman was arrested following the incident and the incident is currently being reviewed by the Vallejo Police Department.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Excessive Force By Police Officers
Women have increasingly become the victims of violence at the hands of police officers. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “[an] increase in use of force was especially dramatic among women: the number of women experiencing police use of force in 2015 was 4.5 times (353%) the number experiencing force in 1999, up from 55,181 to 250,200. Meanwhile, the number of men experiencing police use of force doubled from 366,533 in 1999 to 735,100 in 2015.” Police departments should take a number of measures to reduce instances of excessive force involving their police officers.
- Police officers should wear body cameras anytime that they interact with the public.
- Police officers should be thoroughly vetted and well trained before they start working.
- Police departments should thoroughly investigate all use-of-force incidents.
Depending on the facts of any case, a police department could be held liable for the excessive force of their officers. 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. California recently passed (SB 2) which eliminates many legal immunities that shield police departments from civil lawsuits. A police officer may have used excessive force in a number of different ways.
- A police officer may have struck a suspect that is already subdued.
- A police officer may have shot a suspect attempting to flee.
- A police officer may have hit a suspect that wast not resisting.
Assaults at the hands of police officers can result in lasting injuries. In August, a woman sustained a traumatic brain injury after being attacked by a Hemet police officer. Any person that is injured by the excessive force of a California police officer may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help After Excessive Force By Vallejo Police Officers
We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to the woman harmed by this Vallejo police officer. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated under the color of law. There needs to be some accountability and steps taken to prevent this from happening again.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed by the excessive force of Vallejo police officers? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We focus entirely on helping people who have been harmed by abuses of power from law enforcement. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.
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