Minneapolis City Council mulls
police brutality settlement
Politics Brandt Williams
The Minneapolis City Council
today will consider approving a $50,000 police brutality lawsuit settlement.
According to the complaint
filed in federal court, in 2012, after a night of drinking and dining, Alicia
Joneja was sleeping in the lobby of her apartment building because she forgot
her keys; a neighbor called 911 out of concern for her.
Joneja alleged one of the
responding officers, Heather Sterzinger, struck Joneja in the torso with one of
her knees, slammed her head into the concrete floor and dragged her across the
floor causing injuries to her leg and shoulder.
City attorneys deny Sterzinger
used excessive force and they say Joneja resisted the officer's attempts to
control her. City staff, though, are recommending the council approve the
settlement.
The council will also vote to
fund a pilot program for officers to wear body cameras. City officials hope the
cameras will help reduce the amount of money it spends settling police
misconduct lawsuits.
Since 2003, the city has paid
out more than $21 million in officer conduct-related lawsuit settlements,
judgments and claims.
