Shouldnt have been stupid. Gemale Black, president of the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP, said the letter was sent to both law enforcement agencies as well as Salisbury city council members and the Rowan County Board of Commissioners. Court: Fourth Circuit North Carolina US District . Defendant. After a review of those policies, Black said he would like to see the creation of a new zero-tolerance policy that would establish an approach in penalizing and/or prosecuting police officers who engage in unethical acts when interacting with unarmed, non-violent and non-resisting individuals., The letters last demand is an update to the Rowan County Sheriffs Office mission statement to include inclusive language of professional law enforcement services being provided to visitors., The Sheriff Offices current mission statement reads: To provide professional law enforcement to the citizens of Rowan County, North Carolina through efficient and effective methods. This is a military officer and this is a woman, the two pictures are saying. Bottom was not driving recklessly, she didnt lead officers on a high-speed chase, and she never intentionally tried to elude them, her attorneys contend. 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. Defendant Officer Devin Barkalow(hereinafter "Defendant Barkalow") is, and at all relevant times was, employed as an officer for Defendant City, and was acting in the course and scope of his. "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. Ms. Devin Barkalow M Overview. If theyre not going to hold these officers accountable in a situation like this, when will they hold officers accountable?. 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. 68-year-old woman claims she was thrown to the ground by police for speeding 13,595 views Apr 23, 2021 A 68-year-old librarian is suing the City of Salisbury and the Rowan County Sheriff's. We released a statement because theres a lot of concern on how these officers and the Sheriffs department handled the situation, when they couldve handed it much more professionally than that, said Black, who was in Elizabeth City on Saturday taking part in state NAACP activity regarding the police shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. The lawsuit comes as questions surrounding excessive and deadly force by police against Black people remain front and center this week after Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd in Minneapolis and 16-year-old MaKhia Bryant was fatally shot during an altercation in Columbus, Ohio. 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. It was late August, Officer Wilson and Detective Devin Barkalow rushed to the 700 block of Second Street where they saw a man leaning up against the front door of a duplex. Jackie Miller said Bottom posed no threat to police officers during the incident. The other officers named in the suit are Adam . Black said he isnt hopeful that the demand will be fulfilled. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Police say he got out of the car, ran, and was caught. Maam, there was about four police cars behind you at one point in time, Benfield told Bottom as she claimed she didnt realize the officers had been chasing her for miles. Instead, the officers decided to issue a criminal summons for her to appear in court at a later date. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. Those we have entrusted to keep us safe. A Black woman was allegedly grabbed by the hair and pulled out of her SUV by North Carolina police during a traffic stop in 2019 after she was driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and failed to stop for law enforcement, according to a civil lawsuit filed last week. Former Salisbury Police Department officer Devin Barkalow, one of the officers identified in the lawsuit, declined to comment on the complaint, directing a reporter to the department. Jagger Naves of the Rowan County Sheriffs Office cleared use of force used by deputies during the 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. The officers then decided not to charge Bottom to avoid paying the cost of her hospital bills, her attorneys allege. The first of five demands listed in the Salisbury-Rowan NAACPs letter to local law enforcement is for the agencies to release the officers body camera video and the dash camera video in the traffic stop incident. JAMES R. MORGAN, JR. Womble Bond Dickinson (us) LLP contact info. But they approached her vehicle with guns drawn and later violated her rights by using excessive force, the lawsuit said. He identified her on the radio as an older Black female. A frustrated Barkalow called Bottom a fucking retard and a douche bag while chasing her in his squad car. The company's filing status is listed as Organized and its File Number is B101474. Its not clear in incident reports why deputies otherwise searched her vehicle. He joined the staff in August 2020 after graduating from the University of Alabama. The man facing murder charges, 29-year-old John Calvin Sifford III, crashed his car and ran away in an attempt to flee the officers, according to Salisbury police. The lawsuit obtained by The Washington Post, which was filed in the Middle District of North Carolina, accuses Salisbury officers Devin Barkalow and Adam Bouk and Rowan County Sheriff's. The Rowan County Sheriffs Office report does not address actions by Salisbury Police officer Barkalow. The man had been shot twice. The NAACPs letter also demands a review of current policies, which would include the NAACP receiving a copy of all law enforcement policies and procedures of each agency. 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.". On 02/15/2022 STEPHANIE IVETTE CARRASQUILLO filed a Family - Other Family lawsuit against KYLE DEVIN BARKALOW. ): Spencer D. Matthews, 39, Daytona Beach, habitual driving . Real social injustice exists and you are prolonging any chance of a solution by floating this crap. The Sheriff Offices current mission statement reads: To provide professional law enforcement to the citizens of Rowan County, North Carolina through efficient and effective methods. Stephanie Bottom was making the six-hour trek from Atlanta to Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend her aunts funeral. Former Salisbury Police officer Devin Barkalow is accused of pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her hair. The 68-year-old Georgia woman, Stephanie Bottom, filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court for North Carolinas Middle District about her treatment during the stop involving Salisbury Police and the Rowan County Sheriffs Office. Law enforcement's handling of the situation was captured on body cameras, and images of their initial approach were included as exhibits in the lawsuit. The company has 1 contact on record. 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 . Body camera footage shows Benfield pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her arm. Former Salisbury Police officer Devin Barkalow is accused of pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her hair. 25.2k members in the USNEWS community. Despite that, authorities felt justified in threatening deadly force and physically assaulting the woman because she didnt pull over in a timely manner. During the interaction, Cuthbertson swung his helmet, striking Officer B. W. Jones in the face. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. 2151 KEOKUK ST #14. The second cop just comes rushing in and let's adrenaline take over. Bottom, now 68 years old, is a Black librarian. 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. PATRICK G. SPAUGH Womble Bond Dickinson (us) LLP contact info. She also said she was playing loud music in her car and didnt realize police were trying to stop her. An officer pulled alongside Bottom's SUV at one point during the chase and looked inside her vehicle. 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. They determined Bottom needed to be hospitalized. Police detective Devin Barkalow (now with DHS) jumps out of moving car with gun drawn to ticket 68 year old woman for 10 over.she is African American.surprise/surprise VT: No police nationally will stop a car for 80 on an interstate highway where the speedlimit is 70. Durham, NC 27707 Defendant Attorney NED A. STILES Attorney at STILES BYRUM & HORNE, LLP The suit also maintains that officers had no probable cause and never asked for Bottoms consent to search her SUV or her purse, which was in the vehicle. The other officers did not respond to requests for comment. Barkalow remembers how female cadets were hazed and harassed back then. Council members David Post and Brian Miller agreed with the request for data and information about use of force policies, but neither saw a need for a separate public meeting apart from a regular council meeting. Within seconds of arriving at her driver's side door, officers grabbed the by her arm and hair and pulled her from her vehicle to the ground. We dont have any information that they were sanctioned in any way, said Scott Holmes, an attorney representing Bottom and a professor at North Carolina Central Universitys School of Law Civil Litigation Clinic. She really looked confused and scared if anything. 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. "We were the first two officers there, we found the subject sitting in front of this house," Wilson said. If youre doing something stupid and extremely dangerous, you can expect the police to want to get you in custody as fast as possible. Devin Michael Barkalow, Devin M Barkalow and Devin Michale Barkalow are some of the alias or nicknames that Devin has used. The Salisbury Police Department and Rowan County Sheriffs Office could not be reached for comment by publication time. A federal lawsuit filed by a Georgia woman claims officers from Salisbury and Rowan County used excessive force during a traffic stop in 2019 when they pulled her from the car by her hair and tore her rotator cuff. In this conversation. Barkalow and another Salisbury officer, Bottom claims they . A spokesman for the city of Salisbury also declined to comment about the incident. 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. One of the police officers who no longer works for the Salisbury Police Department declined to comment when contacted by the Charlotte Observer. He is a white male registered to vote in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. She really didnt see three cop cars with lights and sirens? She thought the police were attempting to stop another motorist on the interstate, and claims her music drowned out the sirens. And the departments did not seem inclined to take action to hold these officers accountable. "With every twist of the tourniquet I could see the blood flow gradually stopping and then you actually watch it come down to just a slow trickle like a finger cut or something," Wilson added. I work as a paramedic and people have literally brake checked us while going emergent. 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. 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. According to the Post, the officers named in the suit have been identified as Devin Barkalow, Adam Bouk and Rowan County Sheriff's deputy Mark Benfield. So they make up the majority of citizens police interactions in a given year. Olen Bruner called on city leadership to work toward and enact changes that residents elected them to address, particularly archaic laws regarding racial injustice and police brutality that city leaders can hide behind and that protect the system., My first change is stop killing us, he said. Please, why are you doing this to me?, It was a simple traffic stop, thats all we had to do, Benfield told her. Jerry Barkai - Devin Barkalow. Barkalow, who was hired by the department in 2015, left the agency to take a position with federal law enforcement in February 2020, according to Linda McElroy, a spokeswoman for the city of. The LawsuitBottoms lawsuit claims officers used excessive force when they approached her at gunpoint and when they dragged her out of her SUV. Bottom didnt think she was speeding and claims she didnt realize she was being pulled over. 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. There was no indication that local law enforcement agencies were going to take any action against these officers, Mance explained in an interview with Atlanta Black Star. The officers made several attempts to gain the cooperation of Mr. Tori Cuthbertson to turn down his motorcycle radio/music and speak with them about the matter. Chauvins conviction on Tuesday has renewed the push from Democrats for the Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a measure that could reshape law enforcement training in the United States. When Bottom appeared in court, she pleaded guilty to the failure to heed blue lights charge. The allegations were first reported by the Charlotte Observer. They ignored her cries for medical attention and failed to render immediate treatment for her injuries. Whitney Peckman criticized local law enforcement for stating they want a good community relationship but choosing to gloss this over by hiding information about the incident until media reports. 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. The suit says Bottoms injuries required surgery that did not fully repair the shoulder and that she feared the police and did not want to pull over on the side of the interstate. Adam Bouk of the Salisbury Police Department placed a handcuff on Bottoms left hand and the right hand was cuffed with the assistance of two other officers, a sheriffs office narrative states. She said she was driving to Raleigh for a funeral in May 2019 when she was pulled over for speeding and failing to heed to blue lights. 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. Prescription Drugs - Possess Prescription Drugs. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. But here, that is kind of the main way that people interact with police, Mance added. How many more Black and brown people are going to be hurt and killed by the hands of officers, Miller said. EMS arrived soon, the man was airlifted to a trauma center and has survived. View Devin Barkalow M Full Profile . Bottom claims the officers refused to get her medical treatment even as she told them she was in pain, according to the lawsuit. Eventually, Bottom received medical attention at the scene and was taken to the hospital, the lawsuit says. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Many people describe Scott Barkalow as someone who is willing to give anything to anyone, well now this US retired vet is on the receiving end of all the gifts. One of the officers in the lawsuit, Devin Barkalow, declined to talk about the complaint. Though Chief Jerry Stokes has done some good things, Sheffield said, theyre not evident in the overall culture being depicted. Thats when she pulled over to the highways median. Alexander agreed with discussing use of force policies, but reminded the public that the incident happened two years ago and city council members are unsure at this time if something had been done to address the issue already. It wasn't just me, it was Officer Barkalow, it wasn't just me and Officer Barkalow, it was Baker team of the Salisbury Police Department, it took all of us to do that". An internal investigation is pending. Officers had guns drawn When Bottoms didn't immediately pull over, one of the officers making the traffic stop identified in the lawsuit as Salisbury Police Officer Devin Barkalow made. Anger is only one of the emotions I felt when I witnessed the video of what transpired between Ms. Stephanie Bottom and the officers in 2019. Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year-old from Georgia, filed a federal lawsuit in North Carolinas Middle District about her treatment at the end of a 14-mile chase involving local law enforcement officers on Interstate 85 in 2019. Council member Tamara Sheffield said shes been in communication with Bailey about what next steps are needed to address a larger cultural issue regarding community policing. In the suit, 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. The officers pulled Bottom's arms behind her back while she shrieked in pain as sirens blared in the background, according to the footage. She was "terrified," according to the lawsuit, as officers shouted at her to exit the vehicle. Natalie Anderson covers the city of Salisbury, politics and more for the Salisbury Post. 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 case status is Disposed - Other Disposed. And thank God they had to wear body cams or we still wouldnt know what happened., Rev. Sheriff Kevin Auten is named only in his official capacity as the sheriff and is not alleged to have been involved in the incident. She had her hands up and was attempting to exit the vehicle, but it was difficult to do so quickly because of her age and medical conditions. This should anger all of us.. Jacob Linn (1825-1878) was a gunsmith, business owner, Bexar County commissioner, landowner, and rancher. Yeah she ran for 10 miles. 'White privilege and entitlement:' NC city official fired after refusing to address woman by doctoral title. 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. Ms. Bottom wasnt even arrested.. If you have trouble with any of the links above, please contact the user who provided them. When Bottoms 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 . She was cruising northbound on Interstate 85 in her Toyota Sequoia. The letter states, This week, we watched as a 2019 traffic stop video surfaced of officers from Rowan Countys Sheriffs Office and Salisbury Police Department using excessive force to arrest Stephanie Bottom, a 68-year-old Black librarian from Atlanta.. According to the lawsuit, Bottom did not believe she was driving fast and did not think the police were trying to stop her. Bottoms attorneys also argue that officers were deliberately indifferent to the womans pain. OFFICER DEVIN BARKALOW. During this time, Bouk is heard on the body camera footage saying, "That's good police work baby" to other officers, according to the suit. The suit alleges that in his official capacity he "approved and condoned the unlawful behavior.". 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users She had to be hospitalized and undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff. Then Benfield and Salisbury police officer Devin Barkalow have Bottom, then 66, face-down on the road and struggle to handcuff her. SALISBURY Following a federal lawsuit filed by a Georgia woman who claims Salisbury and Rowan County officers used excessive force against her in a 2019 traffic stop, the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP is calling for accountability and transparency from local law enforcement agencies. 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. Our complaint alleges these officers had no reason to use any force, much less the level of force they employed. Mance said that was one of the reasons Emancipate North Carolina opted to take on Bottoms case. View Devin Barkalow's record in Wild Rose, WI including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Someone non compliant whos in operation of a vehicle needs to be stopped immediately, it wasnt her color or age, it was her actions. She had to miss a significant amount of work. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Blotter: Man accused of armed robbery apprehended after short chase, Blotter: Victims in shooting discharged from hospitals, Monday morning car shooting leaves two hospitalized. Once on the ground, officers twisted Bottoms arm behind her back, causing her shoulder to pop, tearing her rotator cuff and causing severe injury, the lawsuit said. Following the public comments, Mayor Pro Tem Al Heggins asked the city council to find a way to address the concerns and deliver transparency. 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. Before Bottom, 68, could get an answer as to why the officers had their guns pointed at her head, police grabbed the librarian by her arm and hair and threw her from her car to the ground, body-camera footage shows. 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. Devin Barkalow currently lives in Concord, NC; in the past Devin has also lived in Chesterland OH and Salisbury NC. 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. The two officers involved in the chase and shooting, Sgt. 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. One of the officers named in the lawsuit, Devin Barkalow, declined to comment to the Charlotte Observer but no longer works for the police department. 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. "Why are you doing this. Then police yanked the 68-year-old Atlanta woman out of her drivers seat by her hair, according to a federal lawsuit. "That was very disturbing . Thats consistent with the incident report from the Rowan County Sheriffs Office, which states that Rowan County Master Deputy Mark Benfield tried to stop Bottom around Julian Road. Among other things, the report states Bottom: failed to stop for blue lights and sirens for about 14 miles and through two counties, simply threw her hands into the air when a uniformed officer pulled along side of her and motioned for her to pull over.. Bouk refused, while the three other officers ignored her pleas. Pretty soon, four male officers were involved in the chase. Two Salisbury Police officers honored for life-saving actions, N.C. CNN has reached out to Rowan County Sheriff's Department for comment but has not yet heard back. While state law allows people pictured in body camera videos to receive a copy, Rowan County government is prevented from releasing the video without a court order. Time and time again I see this where people get mad at someone for not shooting them in the leg or some bullshit, its because they have a split second to decide what theyre gonna do, how theyre gonna do it, and do it. She later asked to be taken to the hospital and told a ranking police captain who arrived on scene that officers had broken her arm. This mission encompasses functions of courthouse security, civil process, operation of detention facility, investigations and community patrol., Blotter: Man accused of armed robbery apprehended after short chase, Blotter: Victims in shooting discharged from hospitals, Monday morning car shooting leaves two hospitalized. Body camera footage shows Benfield pulling Bottom out of the vehicle by her arm. 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. But she said women have made progress since, even in light of the scandal, in which members of an online group allegedly shared or commented on images of nude or semi-clad female Marines. We found 5 entries for Derek Barkalow in the United States. 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. Officers with the Rowan County Sheriff's 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. 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. During this time, Bouk is heard on the body camera footage saying, "That's good police work baby" to other officers, according to the suit. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages for the alleged use of excessive force and unlawful search of the plaintiff's purse and vehicle. I also felt horror, humiliation and sadness.. Look at the tires in the beginning. 2/26/2023 3:37:00 AM. Black said he has not yet received any communication back about the letter, but mentioned that it was only sent out on Saturday. She alleges officers assaulted her and unlawfully searched her SUV during the chaotic ordeal.