NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana family has filed a lawsuit against Jefferson Parish police officers claiming they were unjustly beaten and assaulted by officers during an arrest.
Mechelle Magee, Ashton Reid and Shilar Reid filed the federal lawsuit November 6 against Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto and deputies Jeremy Budo, Randy Picarella, Philip Blitch, Cody Foret, Brittany Flowers, Oscar Pacheco and Elvin Modica, citing violations of their rights under the Fourth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
According to court documents, Shilar Reid was sitting in his mother's car Nov. 7, 2022, in a neighbor's driveway when officers, including Budo and Blitch, approached him. After questioning, the officers allegedly arrested him on open warrants. While being placed in the police vehicle, Budo allegedly slammed the car door on Shilar Reid's leg.
Shilar Reid's brother, Ashton Reid, and their mother, Magee, observed the arrest and protested the situation. Officers Modica, Blitch, Foret and Flowers allegedly elected to approach Ashton Reid and put him under arrest as well even though he was not engaging in any illegal activity. The officers allegedly tackled Ashton Reid to the ground and struck him repeatedly during the course of the arrest. During the confrontation, Magee approached Foret to question what was going on. The lawsuit claims Magee touched Foret's arm, which prompted him to punch her in the face and, with the assistance of Budo, tackle her and place her under arrest. During the incident, Shilar Reid allegedly was being choked by Pacheco in the front seat of the police vehicle.
The plaintiffs claim to have suffered physical and psychological injuries due to the officers' actions. The plaintiffs claim the officers used unauthorized excessive force, failed to intervene and engaged in a conspiracy to cover up their actions. They also allege Lopinto is directly liable for the actions of his subordinates.
The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial to seek damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish, emotional trauma, cognitive impairment and violations of their civil rights as well asd punitive damages for unauthorized excessive force, medical and psychological treatment costs, attorney fees and other relief. They are being represented by Richard J. Richthofen Jr. of Richthofen & Associates in New Orleans and by George R. Ketry Jr. of Ketry Law Firm in Covington.
District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:23-cv-06709