Lawyer in McDade Case Amends Federal Lawsuit Against Pasadena

The initial lawsuit claims the Pasadena Police Department and its officers violated McDade’s civil rights and holds the city, Griffin and Newlen responsible for the teenager’s death.
The amended lawsuit now details the accounts of unnamed witnesses, who said neither Newlen nor Griffin identified themselves as police officers prior to opening fire on McDade.
“Witness accounts said there were no commands such as: `halt,’ `stop,’ `police’ or `let me see your hands,”‘ according to the suit filed Monday.
The amended lawsuit now includes Pasadena police Lt. Phlunte Riddle as a defendant along with the city of Pasadena, police Chief Phillip Sanchez, officers Mathew Griffin and Jeffrey Newlen and police Detective Keith Gomez.
Harper said statements made by Riddle to the media prompted her to name the veteran officer in the federal lawsuit, and despite a warning, Riddle continued to disparage the slain teenager in the press.
All defendants in the case were served Monday and have 21 days to file a responsive pleading.

The lawsuit also alleges that Chief Sanchez failed to enact the reforms suggested by the Los Angeles County Office of Independent Review in the wake of the 2009 Leroy Barnes shooting.
Harper questions the department’s policy of responding to reports of an armed robbery without lights and sirens .
In the lawsuit Harper wrote: “the only other alternative under the current policy is for black men in Northwest Pasadena is to talk slowly with their hands up high at night because in stealth mode there is no plausible way for them to know they are being pursued by police.”

According to a statement sent via email, the offices of Caree Harper will also be filing an ex parte motion to block the deportation of Oscar Carrillo so that he may be deposed. In order to get a Court Order the defendants had to be served with Complaint. The Complaint was amended and signed on what would have been KendrecMcDade’s 20th birthday – 5/5/12.

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