Civil Rights Attorney John Burris & Black Lives Matter Filed a Legal Claim against the Sacramento Sheriff's Department

Reprinted by Permission

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – On May 4, 2020, the Law Offices of John Burris, through its lawyers John Burris and Adante Pointer, filed a legal claim against the Sacramento Sheriff's Department on behalf of the 14-year-old "minor" that was recently brutally assaulted by Sacramento Sheriff Deputy Brian Fowell. Deputy Fowell is contracted out to the City of Rancho Cordova as a police officer. The claim is the first legal step toward bringing legal action for violations of the minor's civil rights as well as other misconduct. Given his young age, his Aunt Leataie Tagalo is bringing the case on his behalf.

According to Burris, "The facts captured on a bystander's cell phone are especially egregious because it vividly shows the officer forcefully attacking the minor, then grabbing, punching, and tossing him to the ground." Burris goes on to state, "This is particularly disturbing in that the boy is slightly built, weighing no more than 120 pounds. At the same time, Deputy Fowell appears to be twice his size and heavily muscled, as evidenced by the way the Deputy physically manhandled the minor." Burris asserts, "The officer's aggressiveness was disproportionate to any wrongful conduct by the minor, which at best was purchasing a "sweet cigar" and not giving his proper name." 

The officer's conduct physically injured the minor, who, during the incident, was frightened and clearly yelling, "what did I do."  Burris was also extremely disturbed after watching the video. "You can hear Officer Fowell asking the minor 'what are you' suggesting to me racial animus, The minor ethnically is Samoan.  Burris says that the cell phone video captures in real-time Officer Fowell's outrageous and bullying conduct. "But for this video, it would have been the word of a seasoned police officer against that of a 14-year-old boy. We may not have captured the essence of the officer's mean spirit, physical superiority, and lack of regard for the minor's well-being." Attorney Adante Pointer states, "Given Officer Fowell's apparent inability to maintain his cool and instead resort to violence when none was needed shows he cannot be trusted to patrol the community with a badge and a gun. He must be fired!" The minor's family and other community stakeholders were present at the press conference.