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.". A March report from the review panel, which is part of the Governors Crime Commission, showed that Black drivers are also searched nearly twice the rate as white and Hispanics in North Carolina, and more than three times the rate of other races. The suit says she was going 10 mph over the speed limit 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. Devin Barkalow M Overview. An internal investigation is pending. In the lawsuit, Bottom says law enforcement officers used excessive force, drew their guns during the stop, pulled her out of the car by her hair and tore her rotator cuff. Authorities scoffed at her explanation, finding it hard to believe she didnt notice them for 10 miles. Ummm dont think there are usually like a dozen police cars for a traffic stop obviously something else is going on here. Sgt. Regina Dancy said she debated speaking about the issue for fear shed be perceived as anti-police, which she emphasized she is not, or an angry Black woman speaking out against racial injustice. I know she did not apparently have medical issues but they should have checked her over first before slamming her to the ground. Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested.. "With each pump of his heart you could just see it coming out," Wilson added. Bottom didnt think she was speeding and claims she didnt realize she was being pulled over. Defendant. Published 12:10 am Wednesday, May 5, 2021, By Natalie Anderson 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. Devin Barkalow M Overview. I know that they leave their homes every shift not knowing if they will make it back safely., She continued, But this evening, I am an angry Black woman. 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. He was sitting, leaning in front of this house, and he was screaming for help and we could see that he was covered from the waist down in dark blood.". The information viewed in the video from 2019 released by local media is not what we expect or will accept from our local law enforcement, she said. "I was sitting at a red light at the square in here in Salisbury when the call came in that we had a gunshot victim," said Master Police Officer Joe Wilson. The federal complaint also names Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten as well as the Pennsylvania National Mutual, Casualty Insurance Company, the insurance company with which the Sheriffs Office has a $2 million surety bond. Black said he would like to see an updated mission statement that features language pertaining to people like Bottom, who may only be visiting Rowan County or simply passing through. 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.". Bottom pleaded guilty to failing to heed blue lights. OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW OFFICER ADAM BOUK CITY OF SALISBURY SHERIFF KEVIN AUTEN PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL MUTUAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY Attorney/Law Firm Details Plaintiff Attorney CURTIS SCOTT HOLMES Attorney at BROCK PAYNE & MEECE, PA 3130 Hope Valley Rd. After Benfields initial attempt to pull Bottom over, a roughly 14-mile chase ensued and ended when law enforcement officers eventually flattening Bottoms tires in Davidson County, according to the incident report. Constitutional carry bill aims to eliminate handgun permits, Medic: Teen dead, driver seriously injured in crash on I-485 in west Charlotte, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Shouldnt have been stupid. 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 . Like, theres got to be a better way to handle this. 1331 . Its not like the cop decided that they wanted the hair because it would be more aggressive, theyre just grabbing her and getting her out of the vehicle to detain her as fast as possible. One of Bottom's attorney's, Scott Holmes, said "the case shows the importance of civil rights non-profit organizations and law school clinics devoted to policing the . Detective Barkalow is currentlyworking in an undercover capacity and was not available for an interview or picture. SALISBURY Local residents expressed anger and called for transparency from city leaders and local law enforcement officers Tuesday regarding a 2019 traffic incident thats the center of a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force. The Rowan County Sheriffs Office report does not address actions by Salisbury Police officer Barkalow. Why? Six locals spoke during the Salisbury City Councils public comment session Tuesday, condemning the actions depicted in the body camera footage, emphasizing mistrust in local officers among Black and brown residents and calling for city leaders to be transparent and hold law enforcement accountable. Bodycam footage showed he also said it was an exciting chase and commented that he was at the edge of his seat.. Were not asking for much, Black said. It caused her a very significant injury that required surgery, that required her to spend time in the hospital. 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. The officers then decided not to charge Bottom to avoid paying the cost of her hospital bills, her attorneys allege. Thats when she pulled over to the highways median. 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. After a short vehicle chase, police say they shot Sifford'stires until he crashed in front of a home on E. Lafayette Street. The Salisbury Police Department and Rowan County Sheriffs Office could not be reached for comment by publication time. Incident reports show the chase occurred on May 30, 2019 when Rowan County Master Deputy Mark Benfield tried to stop Bottom around Julian Road for traveling 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. In this conversation. Bottom claimed she was driving 70 mph or 75 mph with her music turned up so loudly that she couldnt hear the sirens. Those we have entrusted to keep us safe. The video shows Salisbury Deputy Mark Benfield approaching Ms Bottom's car with his gun drawn before grabbing her hair and dragging her to the ground. So why was it necessary to handle an old lady so aggressively when she is sitting in a car and there are a dozen other cops on the scene? What have I done wrong? Ian Mance is the attorney handling the case for the public policy program, which is dedicated to criminal justice reform and eradicating structural racism. While state law allows people pictured in body camera videos to receive a copy, the Rowan County Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department are prevented from releasing the video without a court order. Filter by State in . Mary Walker also denounced the incident depicted in body camera footage on behalf of Women for Community Justice. Police say Sifford is facing multiple drug charges and was also charged with fleeing to elude arrest in a motor vehicle. So they make up the majority of citizens police interactions in a given year. It was very frightening. Body camera footage shows Benfield pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her arm. Incident reports show the chase occurred on May 30, 2019 when Rowan County Master Deputy Mark Benfield tried to stop Bottom around Julian Road for traveling 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. The Black Army officer accused police officers in Windsor, Va., of holding him at gunpoint and pepper-spraying and assaulting him during a traffic stop in December. In the lawsuit, Bottom says law enforcement officers used excessive force, drew their guns during the stop, pulled her out of the car by her hair and tore her rotator cuff. 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. Despite that, authorities felt justified in threatening deadly force and physically assaulting the woman because she didnt pull over in a timely manner. Wed write you a ticket. As Bottom was unbuckling her seatbelt, Barkalow rushed in from the passengers side of the SUV and snatched the elderly woman out of the drivers seat by her hair, then slammed her to the pavement. 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. The presiding judge in the case is William L. Osteen, Jr. Bottom is represented in court by Scott Holmes of the North Carolina Central University Civil Litigation Clinic and Mance. Thats not the case in a lot of states. See the correctional supervision record for Kyle Devin Barkalow, who is or was recently under the supervision of the department of corrections in the state of Florida. The lawsuit names Benfield and Barkalow as the two officers who did this. 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. Following the public comments, Mayor Pro Tem Al Heggins asked the city council to find a way to address the concerns and deliver transparency. Like the officers who leave their home not knowing if they will safely return, many of us feel the exact same way every single day. CHRISTIAN FERLAN Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Yeah she ran for 10 miles. The two officers involved in the chase and shooting, Sgt. The fourth officer named in the lawsuit is Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten. She was cruising northbound on Interstate 85 in her Toyota Sequoia. Read the full court filing by clicking here. Saturday night. Published 10:05 am Thursday, April 22, 2021. OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW. 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. [After this point is the edit]: Also its easy to say in pretty much every situation that theres got to be a better way to handle this because its true; but we have time to observe and think without the consequences of being there in person. Didnt want to get shot? 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