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LOUISIANA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Man alleges police beating during traffic stop

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An Orleans Parish man is suing a local police jurisdiction and several officers claiming he was injured during a traffic stop.

Yimlah S. Sankofa filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand; Jefferson Parish; Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; and George Kister, John Wielbelt, William Whittington and other unknown deputies, individually and as police officers of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, in U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 18 citing civil rights violations in a May 2014 incident.

According to court documents, Sankofa was detained at a traffic stop on Ames Boulevard in Marrero on or about May 19, 2014. The suit states that after Sankofa exited his vehicle when asked by police, officers beat him without warning or provocation.

The suit claims injuries due to alleged excessive force. The suit alleges that the defendants routinely practice assault and battery and inflict abuse on citizens in violation of their constitutional rights.

The lawsuit claims negligent hiring and supervision and cites failure to properly hire, train, discipline and/or supervise police officers; tolerance of police misconduct including excessive force; and failure to prevent abuse.

The suit claims damages including physical and mental pain and suffering, anxiety, humiliation and fear; deprivation of rights; and loss of enjoyment of life. The suit seeks actual, punitive and exemplary damages in the amount of $4 million plus attorney’s fees, expenses and court costs.

Sankofa is represented by Stephen Smith of New Orleans.

U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-01679-LMA-SS 

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