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A group of Iowa residents have sued members of the Des Moines Police Department and the city for alleged police brutality at a protest following the death of George Floyd in May.
Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, filed in Polk County Court, seek to represent a Class of anyone arrested or assaulted by Des Moines Police Department officers May 31, the Des Moines Register reported.
Lead plaintiff Cierra Dunn says following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, protesters gathered in Des Moines the night of May 30.
Police responded to the area near the Polk County Courthouse to ensure the Polk County Criminal Courts building wasn’t damaged, the class action lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs claim one Des Moines Police Department officer walked up to a woman and sprayed her with pepper spray without saying anything to her. Several other protesters were pepper sprayed as well.
Without giving any clear orders to disperse, the defendants also deployed tear gas, throwing canisters into the crowd of peaceful protesters, the class action lawsuit says.
As protesters attempted to clear the area, a police vehicle allegedly drove through the crowd, nearly hitting several people.
When the protesters made it to the Capitol, they were met by police wearing riot gear, the class action lawsuit says, and again tear gas was deployed.
Police eventually “herded” the crowd to the bar district, where the protesters mingled with others, the plaintiffs say. Over time, the protest became more of a party.
About 2:30 a.m. May 31, dozens of Des Moines Police Department officers responded to a Hy-Vee store near the bar district where about five to 10 people caused some property damage, the plaintiffs say.
Though there was no longer an organized group and no one was unlawfully assembled, police canvassed the area and arrested people regardless of whether they had anything to do with the vandalism, the plaintiffs claim.
In making their arrests, police again used pepper spray; they also allegedly kicked and struck one man with a baton.
“Defendant Police were not using force for any legitimate purpose; they did not even attempt to arrest the man,” the complaint says.
The Des Moines Police Department faces similar allegations from other plaintiffs, the Des Moines Register reported.
Other lawsuits related to Iowa protests have also been filed, with one woman claiming she was unnecessarily pepper sprayed and plaintiffs in a separate case claiming they were unlawfully arrested and banned from the Capitol grounds.
Dunn’s class action lawsuit formally accuses the Des Moines Police Department officers of illegal seizure, excessive force, constitutional and civil rights violations, conspiracy, intentional affliction of emotional distress, false arrest/imprisonment, libel, assault and battery, negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, and respondeat superior.
They demand a jury trial and are seeking all allowable damages in an amount to be determined; compensation for their constitutional rights being violated, mental anguish and humiliation; court costs; pre-judgment interest; and declaratory and injunctive relief.
Do you think the Des Moines Police Department officers acted inappropriately? Let us know your thoughts below.
The plaintiffs are represented by Gina Messamer of Parrish, Kruidenier, Dunn, Gentry, Brown Bergmann & Messamer LLP.
The Des Moines Police Department Police Brutality Class Action Lawsuit is Cierra Dunn, et al. v. Trudy Paulson, et al., Case No. LACL149462, in the Iowa District Court in and for Polk County.
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2 thoughts onDes Moines Police Department Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Alleged Brutality
This was broadcasted on local news and the crowd was told numerous times to disperse over loud speakers. It was a riot scene for a while and then others went on to damage all the innocent businesses in downtown. The cops are shown taking knees to show support at one point and the majority of the crowd was doing nothing but wreak havoc and be disorderly and throwing stuff at the police. They were also warned if they did not disperse they would use tear gas. No merit to this case at all other then The Parrish law firm likes the media.
This is a bogus law suit and should be tossed out