She then looked for a safe place to pull over until spike strips were deployed to stop her. may be available from PACER. In the footage, Bottom is seen screaming as Benfield, Barkalow, and Salisbury Police Officer Adam Bouk force her to lay face down on the ground, according to the lawsuit. NC governor calls for release of bodycam video in Andrew Brown killing, Police video shows officer using stun gun on handcuffed man, 68-year-old woman sues NC police for violent traffic stop recorded on body camera, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. 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. Asheville (NC) (2) Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill (NC) (13) Clarendon, NC (1) She also admits to going 10 miles over the speed limit, which was 70mph, meaning she was driving around 80mph. 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. Discovery Company. Im on my way to a funeral, my aunts funeral, she sobs. 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. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. appreciated. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman,' said Ian Mance, a lawyer with EmancipateNC who represents Bottom. The mainstream narrative that criminalizes Black and Brown people must be transformedso that we can all get free. Bottom wantspunitive damages, compensatory damages, attorneys fees and other costs. WebBlack librarian Stephanie Bottom pulled by hair, injured by police in Salisbury, North Carolina, lawsuit says. 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. Salisbury city officials declined to comment on Bottoms lawsuit, but told the outlet that its police department always strives for positive interactions with residents and visitors, including those suspected of criminal activity. of Idaho. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed, attorney Ian Mance told the Observer. According to the lawsuit against Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, Bottom, who was then 66-years old, did not know she was going about 10 mph more than the speed limit. 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.". One of the officers was heard bragging about grabbing a handful of dreads, saying at that point she earned it on body camera footage. After allegedly pulling her out of her car by her hair, Bottom was left on the ground. [emailprotected]. Read More: Police video shows officer using stun gun on handcuffed man. Traveling north on I-85, she eventually noticed the After the search, officers told Bottom to stand, but she said she couldnt due to the pain in her shoulder, according to the suit. 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. 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 Atlanta, wrote Gemale Black, President of the Salisbury-Rowan chapter of the NAACP in a statement. Maam, there were three police cars behind you for about 10 miles, one of the officers replied. 'Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. 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. They have also lived in Willow Spring, NC and Raleigh, NC. Black librarian Stephanie Bottom pulled by hair, injured by police in Salisbury, North Carolina, lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. At the time of the search, [Bottom] was at the front of her vehicle and unable to reach her vehicle or purse, the lawsuit alleges. An officer tells her she refused to stop for law enforcement. We've received your submission. 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. Mark Walhberg is SLAMMED for presenting SAG Award to Asian cast of Everything Everywhere All At Once following his hate crime conviction for assaulting Asian men, Emily Blunt looks incredible in a red figure hugging gown as she cosies up to husband John Krasinski on the red carpet, SAG Awards' best dressed stars! She was terrified, according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. 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 Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested. According to an ABC 7 News article, Bottom 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.. April 21, 2021 (Screenshot via TheBL/Charlotte Observer video) Officers used unnecessary force on a woman during a traffic stop in North Carolina, according to a federal complaint brought by Georgia the officer responds. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. (Hicks, Samantha), CASE REFERRED to Mediation pursuant to Local Rule 83.9b of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of this Court. Bottom then tells the officers she has a shoulder injury and is in pain while handcuffed, leading her to ask that the cuffs be removed. Norfolk State Spartans (20-8, 9-3 MEAC) at North Carolina Central Eagles (15-11, 8-4 MEAC) Durham, North Carolina; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Norfolk State plays the North Carolina Central Posted by 10 months ago. Another angle appears to show an officer grabbing Bottom by her hair when yanking her from the car. The officers were attempting to conduct a traffic stop, as Bottom was allegedly driving 80 mph in a 70-mph zone. He took a job with federal law enforcement in February 2020, according to Linda McElroy, a spokesperson for the city of Salisbury. 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. Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested.. "Because I didn't know they were going after me!" Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunts funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes Stephanie Bottom was driving on May 30, 2019, along Interstate 85 from Georgia to North Carolina to attend her great aunts funeral, her attorney Scott Holmes 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) Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. It's unclear how close police were to Bottom's vehicle before she pulled over, as the footage only shows the inside of the police vehicle and the sky. "Ma'am, there was about four police cars behind you at one point in time," the officer responds. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.. 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. WebFOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA Civil Action No. CNN has reached out to Rowan County Sheriffs Department for comment but has not yet heard back. PO Box 309 Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Her requests for medical assistance were ignored even though she said she was in pain. WebStephanie Bottom is a 68-year-old black woman who is suing the North Carolina police for using excessive force during a traffic stop in May 2019. Close. Phone Number: I was listening to my musicI wasn't going that fast, Bottom says. "Well, honey, you had several miles to stop. Bottom, who is Black, contended in the lawsuit that the officers from the Salisbury Police Department and Rowan County Sheriffs office used excessive force, in document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. It's unclear how close police were to Bottom's vehicle before she pulled over, as the footage only shows the inside of the police vehicle and the sky. Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the US Court's PACER system. She is seeking punitive damages, compensatory damages, attorneys fees and other costs from the state defendantsas well as injunctive and declaratory relief that prohibits similar treatment against citizens in the future based on the idea that the officers actions were in violation of the Fourth Amendments prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. This docket was last retrieved on June 15, 2021. McElroy also declined to comment on the pending litigation. Body Posted by 10 months ago. The police department in Salisbury said they would not comment when contacted by Inside Edition. 2. The Charlotte Observer reported Stephanie Bottom, an Atlanta native and librarian, filed her lawsuit on April 21 and claimed a group of white officers used excessive force when they pulled her over. In a federal lawsuit, a 68-year-old Black librarian is accusing North Carolina law enforcement officers of using excessive force against her during a traffic stop. Video footage captured by body cameras worn by the officers prove Bottoms claims of physical harm. North Carolina Central Eagles (16-11, 9-4 MEAC) at South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-24, 2-11 MEAC) Orangeburg, South Carolina; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: North Carolina Central faces the In May 2019, a 68-year-old Black woman named Stephanie Bottom was pulled over by officers from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and the Salisbury Police 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. 2023 Cable News Network. Bottom informed the outlet that her injuries kept her from working for eight months, resulting in a loss of wages. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he "approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.". Stephanie Bottom is suing the police over her arrest in May 2019 which left her with a torn rotator cuff. Bodycam footage from the incident shows officers approach Bottom's vehicle with guns drawn. A 68-year-old Black librarian from Georgia has filed a civil rights lawsuit against police officers over a traffic stop gone awry. 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. An officer declined the request, but paramedics later took Bottom to a hospital, the Charlotte Observer reported. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. She also was charged with speeding and resisting arrest but those were dismissed. A video of the traffic stop shows Bottom pleading with the officers, screaming out in agony, and asking what have I done wrong? One of the officers body cameras also captured one of the Salisbury police officers bragging about grabbing a handful of dreads and saying she earned it. The four officers involved in the incident were Salisbury Police Officers Devin Barkalow and Adam Bouk, Rowan County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Benfield, and an officer only referred to as Officer Smith. 2001-2023 Dante Lee International | All Rights Reserved. We found 15 records for Stephanie Monroe in Huntersville, Fayetteville and 12 other cities in North Carolina. An officer then asks Bottom at one point if she had consumed alcohol prior to getting behind the wheel, which she denies, the footage shows. Bottom was peaceful at all times, and officers knew they were dealing with an elderly woman. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that I was going to die. A 68-year-old Atlanta librarian is suing police in Salisbury, North Carolina, claiming excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop. In the footage, Bottom is seen screaming as Benfield, Barkalow, and Salisbury Police Officer Adam Bouk force her to lay face down on the ground, according to the lawsuit. Phone Number: Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- A University of North Carolina student used some area knowledge to advance in Jeopardy's High School Reunion Tournament. 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. She says that when she requested medical assistance, approximately an hour elapsed before officers called for help. Here's why. Subscribe to Justia's Free Newsletters featuring summaries of federal and state court opinions. After the arrest, Bottom claimed she was listening to music loudly in her car and did not realize she was being pulled over, according to the lawsuit, a claim that can be heard in the video. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that Im going to die.. Durham, NC 27702 She was also unable to work for eight months following the injuries she suffered and still primarily uses her right arm to stack bookshelves, as she struggles to raise her left hand over her head. noticed the blue lights of a Sheriff Deputys vehicle. Stephanie Bottom was admittedly going 10 miles over the speed limit on May 30, 2019 in North Carolina. Stephanie Workman, Age 52 Remove Record. Web22 records for Stephanie Bottoms. Close. The suit was filed in federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina. At one point, she begged for medical attention, as well for an opportunity to call her family. When they grabbed me and threw me to the ground, thats when the real terror struck me that I was going to die.'. Bottom was charged with speeding and resisting arrest. "Why are you doing this to me? Bottom is heard telling officers. Find Dr. Newby's phone number, address, hospital affiliations and more. 'Within five seconds of arriving at her drivers side door with guns drawn, Defendants Benfield and Barkalow grabbed Plaintiff by her arm and hair and threw her from her Toyota Sequoia to the ground,' the lawsuit says. Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, FL Gov. Filter by City. By Stephanie Hubler | Feb. 23 Send 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. Bottom claims at this point she was on her way to a funeral before saying that officers were hurting her shoulder. Officers had their sirens on for at least 10 minutes, according to body camera footage that is cited in the lawsuit and was reviewed by CNN. A black librarian was dragged by her hair and yanked out of her car at a traffic stop in North Carolina, newly released bodycam footage has revealed.Stephanie Bottom, then 66, was driving her car to Raleigh for her great aunts funeral on 30 May, 2019 when, Salisbury police and Rowan County sheriff deputies attempted to pull her over for : 1:21cv322 STEPHANIE BOTTOM ) Plaintiff, ) Stephanie Bottom (hereinafter Plaintiff), is an African American librarian who DEPUTY MARK BENFIELD, OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW, OFFICER ADAM BOUK, CITY OF SALISBURY, SHERIFF KEVIN AUTEN and PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Set Deadlines: PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY answer due 7/23/2021. Emancipate NC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and was previously known as the Carolina Justice Policy Center. The lawsuit alleges that earlier in the stop, Barkalow also said Bottom was a'f*****g retard' and a 'douche bag.'. 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. The clip which has been released after Bottom filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday begins with Deputy Mark Benfield approaching Bottoms car with his gun drawn before grabbing her hair and dragging her to the ground. Unprofessional conduct, inappropriate comments, and excessive force use negatively impacts police-citizen relationships. Docket action in the case was quick, however, and there may not be much of any precedent as a result of the lawsuit. Stephanie Bottom (AP) RALEIGH, N.C. A federal lawsuit filed by a Georgia librarian says white officers used excessive force on the Black woman during a 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. A Salisbury police officer involved in the stop, allegedly Devin Barkalow, 'bragged about "grabbing a handful of dreads", and said "at that point she earned it",' the lawsuit said, citing footage from the officer's body camera. I was shaking in fear, Bottom said in an interview with the Charlotte Observer. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Get notified of updates. WebStunningly Stephanie is a professional Logistics and Consulting business that supports federal, state and local government, private, for-profit and non-profit organizations. Stephanie Bottom. Police pull Black woman by hair, injure her shoulder in traffic stop. The officers pulled Bottom's arms behind her back while she shrieked in pain as sirens blared in the background, according to the footage. What have I done wrong?. Prison is state-sponsored violence. TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. According to Bottom, all of the arresting officers were white, In a CBS News article from April 23, Ian Mance is quoted saying Ms. 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. The actions of officers who abuse their power makes it hard for individuals to trust law enforcement. Jacob Blake Files Excessive Force Lawsuit Against Kenosha Officer Who Fired Shot That Paralyzed Him, Virginia Police Officer Fired After Shooting Pepper Spray on Army Lieutenant at Traffic Stop, Town Says, Roderick Walker Case: White Deputy Fired After Being Seen Punching Black Man During Traffic Stop, Man Suing for 'Excessive Force' After Police Break Windshield with Suspects Head. I did nothing wrong.. The officers pulled Bottoms arms behind her back while she shrieked in pain as sirens blared in the background, according to the footage. Officers forced her to lay face down on the ground and twisted her arm behind her back, causing her shoulder to pop, tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury, the lawsuit said, according to CNN. Black librarian Stephanie Bottom pulled by hair, injured by police in Salisbury, North Carolina, lawsuit says. Ms. Bottom wasn't even arrested.'. Select this result to view Stephanie Leigh Walls's phone number, address, and more. 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) Do not sell or share my personal information. She was stopped for driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone and for failing to heed blue lights. Stephanie Love, Age 45 Remove Record. 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.. Stephanie F. Newby is a Neurologist in Charlotte, NC. Stephanie Bottom said she was driving to North Carolina for a funeral when she was pulled over for suspected speeding. She is hard working, hard charging and highly professional. I didn't know you guys were chasing after me. Stephanie Bottom, of Atlanta, Georgia, was driving to the funeral of her great aunt in May 2019 when she was seen by police allegedly going 80mph in a 70mph Ms. And after that, she claims, it got even worse. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. Bottom says. She is now suing the police officers who were involved in her arrest, Bottom complains repeatedly during the arrest about the cops hurting her, 'Ms. The lawsuit said she was listening to music loudly in her car at that time and she did not immediately realize she was being pulled over. A 68-year-old Black woman has filed a Get a complete background report of Stephanie Austin at LocatePeople with phone, address, email, criminal, court and arrest records. As an organization, we are dedicated to shifting the narrative on racialized mass incarceration through community education and mobilization. Bottom, an Atlanta librarian and grandmother of five, was driving to North Carolina for a relatives funeral when police stopped her vehicle after it was going 10 The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. Emancipate NC attorney Ian Mance and Emancipate NC client Stephanie Bottom are featured in a new CNN documentary: CNN Special Report- Traffic Stop: Dangerous Encounters. Bottom had surgery to repair the tear, but she still cannot raise her left arm above her head. In May 2019, a 68-year-old Black woman named Stephanie Bottom was pulled over by officers from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and the Salisbury Police Department. The Gamecocks responded in the bottom of the seventh with sacrifice plays by Petry and sophomore catcher Talmadge LeCroy. We are all complicit in its harms. Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was pain, according to the lawsuit. I was getting ready to die. Emancipate NC was founded on the knowledge that mass incarceration and structural racism harm all of us. She later had surgery for the injury, but it did not fully repair the shoulder, according to the lawsuit, and now there is permanent damage. Find Stephanie Bottoms's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. She received medical attention only after about an hour. She also wants to make sure that other people are not treated the way she was during her May 2019 arrest. 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 Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. The No. The officers are then seen pinning both of her arms behind her back to put handcuffs on Bottom. It was a simple traffic stop, an officer tells Bottom. AGE. 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. 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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?' According to the lawsuit, the police grabbed the then 66-year-old by her hair, and threw her to the ground resulting in a torn rotator cuff. The local NAACP chapter called for the release of the bodycam footage, a transparent investigation, a review of current policies, creation of new policies, and for the Rowan County Sheriffs office to update its mission statement. SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV) - The City of Salisbury has responded to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in which a then 66-year-old woman says she was treated violently 'I was shaking in fear,' Bottom said to the Observer. 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. It is an absolute pleasure to know her and have worked with her.. Medicaid to cut 14 MILLION Americans from health coverage as states crack down on eligibility for the first time in three years after numbers soared during COVID - so are you at risk? Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. "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. 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The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiffs purse and vehicle. Three law enforcement officers in North Carolina are accused of using When she was asked to stand but couldnt because of the pain in her shoulder, officers forcefully picked her up by her arms, inflicting more injury to her shoulder. Bottom later pleaded guilty to failing to heed blue lights, while two other charges of speeding and resisting arrest were ultimately dropped, the newspaper reported. Some of those images can be seen immediately below: Bottom alleges the group of officers arrested her unreasonably when they grabbed [her] by her hair and threw her from her Toyota Sequoia to the ground., As a result, the librarian claims, she was seriously injured due to the excessive force of the arrest, which resulted in a tear to her rotator cuff in her shoulder. This injury, according to the lawsuit, required surgery, permanently scarring and limiting the use of [Bottoms] shoulder.. Once on the ground, officers twisted Bottom's arm behind her back, causing her 'shoulder to 'pop,' tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury,' the lawsuit said.