Vallejo Man, Beaten and Brutalized By Police Receives $50,000

In a recent police brutality case in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento, a jury award one of three Vallejo residents $50,000 for the mistreatment he received at the hands of several Vallejo City Police Officers.

Plaintiff, Jason Deocampo was walking with two friends through the Vallejo’s Country Club Crest neighborhood on March 28, 2003.  As one friend was placed into custody, Deocampo and his other friend were told to move away.  According to Deocampo, as he was retreating, he was followed and accosted by one of the three police officers on the scene.

Deocampo testified that officers hit him in the legs and back with their batons.  Defense attorneys for the police officers claimed that Deocampo and his friends made threatening gestures.  Mr. Deocampo’s lawsuit alleged a host of civil rights violations, including racial discrimination, false arrest and imprisonment and excessive use of force.  Mr. Deocampo is a Native American and his two friends were African American.  All three police officers sued are White.  Nonetheless, a jury only found that the police officers used excessive force in their treatment of Mr. Deocampo and denied recovery for the other 11 causes of action against the police officers.

Based on the allegations, the Constitutional rights of Mr. Deocampo and his friends were violated.  Every person has the right to be free from unlawful and unreasonable searches and seizures.  While public safety is a concern, and the police are tasked with keeping the public safe, there is a fine that cannot be crossed.  Here, the jury decided that line was crossed.  Suits like these make institutions such as the police department aware of their conduct and hopefully, when enough people speak out and assert their rights, a change will occur.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of police brutality and have had your rights violated, contact Khorrami Boucher Sumner Sanguinetti, LLP for guidance and a confidential consultation.