The family of Immanueal Jaquez Clark-Johnson, a 30-year-old man shot in the back by #Portland police officer Christopher Sathoff, is suing the city and the officer. On Nov. 19, 2022, the #police responded to an armed robbery report and mistakenly identified Clark-Johnson's vehicle as matching the suspect's.
"The police then left him to lay on the concrete parking lot, writhing in pain and bleeding out, for 26 minutes before providing any medical attention," the lawsuit said.
He died in the hospital five days later. The family alleges violations of Clark-Johnson's Fourth Amendment rights, excessive force, and negligence in providing care post-shooting. Contrary to police reports, Clark-Johnson and another individual, both Black men, were misidentified as suspects described as white.
The lawsuit highlights discrepancies in police actions, including preventing bystanders from aiding Clark-Johnson and a delay in medical response, suggesting timely medical intervention could have saved his life. This case also references a history of similar incidents involving Portland police and calls for accountability and damages. A grand jury previously cleared Officer Sathoff of criminal wrongdoing, but the lawsuit seeks a jury trial to address the claims of unjustified use of force and the city's responsibility.
"At the end of the day, it is important to have a jury weigh in on how it is that this family can be compensated and whether the city needs to be held accountable," said Juan Chavez, Director of the Civil Rights Project at the Oregon Justice Center.
Link: KGW