The household of a Black man shot and killed by a Georgia deputy throughout a site visitors cease in October filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday in search of greater than $16 million in damages over assertions that the deputy used extreme drive and the sheriff who employed him ignored the officer’s historical past of violence.
Leonard Remedy, 53, was killed three years after Florida authorities launched him following a 16-year jail keep for an armed theft he didn’t commit.
The civil lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court docket comes after Remedy was killed on Oct. 16 in a battle with Camden County Sheriff’s Employees Sgt. Buck Aldridge, who pulled him over for dashing on Interstate 95.
“It’s a terrible day when the citizens have to police the police,” Mary Remedy, Leonard’s mom, mentioned at a information convention Tuesday outdoors the federal courthouse in coastal Brunswick.
LAKEN RILEY MURDER SUSPECT LIVED WITHIN 5-MINUTE WALK OF UGA CRIME SCENE
Legislation enforcement administering assist to Leonard Remedy, 53, after a bodily altercation with a Camden County Sheriff’s Workplace deputy, on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in Camden County, Georgia. (Camden County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP)
The lawsuit names Aldridge and Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor as defendants, claiming they violated Remedy’s constitutional rights. The lawsuit accuses Aldridge of utilizing extreme drive throughout the site visitors cease by stunning Remedy with a Taser earlier than Remedy began retaliating bodily.
It additionally claims the sheriff created an “unnecessary danger and risk of serious harm or death, with deliberate indifference” by hiring Aldridge and maintaining him in uniform regardless of earlier makes use of of illegal drive.
An lawyer for Aldridge, Adrienne Browning, beforehand mentioned he’s a “fine officer” who shot Remedy in self-defense.
Sprint digicam and physique digicam footage of the incident present Aldridge stunning Remedy with a Taser after he refused to place his fingers behind him to be handcuffed. Remedy then fights again and places his hand on the deputy’s throat earlier than Aldridge shoots him point-blank.
Police dashcam footage exhibits a site visitors cease involving a sheriff’s deputy and Leonard Remedy on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in Camden County, Georgia. (Camden County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP)
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation following the taking pictures, which is frequent apply within the state for shootings involving regulation enforcement officers. Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Legal professional Keith Higgins continues to be reviewing the GBI’s findings and has not determined whether or not to hunt prison fees, in accordance with spokesperson Cheryl Diprizio.
“We don’t need to wait for the district attorney before we move forward,” mentioned Harry Daniels, the civil rights lawyer suing on behalf of Remedy’s household.
Aldridge has been assigned to administrative duties with the sheriff’s fleet upkeep workplace pending a call by prosecutors.
Employees Sgt. Buck Aldridge (pictured) is accused within the lawsuit filed by Remedy’s household of utilizing extreme drive and being unfit to function a regulation enforcement officer. (Camden County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP)
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Remedy’s relations have mentioned he doubtless resisted due to psychological trauma from his imprisonment in Florida for an armed theft he didn’t commit. Officers exonerated and freed him in 2020.
Attorneys for Remedy’s household mentioned Sheriff Proctor ought to by no means have employed Aldridge after he was fired by the neighboring Kingsland Police Division in 2017 following a 3rd self-discipline for utilizing extreme drive. Proctor employed him 9 months later, in accordance with personnel data.
Video from a June 2022 pursuit that led to a crash exhibits Aldridge punching a driver who’s on his again as he pulls the driving force from a wrecked automotive. No disciplinary actions had been taken in opposition to the deputy in that incident, data present.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
