City of Pasadena Vehemently Denies Police Assaulted Two Women

Originally published July 17, 2018 @11:45 a.m. / Last updated July 17, 2018 @4:50 p.m.

Lawyer for plaintiffs alleges city “doctored” video; City refutes allegations

By Terry Miller

A lawsuit filed against the City of Pasadena accusing two police officers of inappropriate conduct during a traffic stop two years ago is “Baseless and, in fact, the claims on which the lawsuit rests are easily proven false,” Lisa Derderaian, Pasadena PIO said in a written statement Monday evening.

A mother and daughter filed a complaint with US District Court alleging they were sexually assaulted by two police officers during a May 2016 traffic stop. The federal civil rights lawsuit was filed in late April on behalf of 43-year-old Sharell Thompson and her 22-year-old daughter, Sharaya Brown, stating that Brendan Thebeau and police officer Carey and the Pasadena PD should stand trial for allegations stated in the suit.

According to the complaint, “As Ms. Brown and Ms. Thompson approached the intersection of Altadena Drive and Foothill Boulevard, they were subjected to a nightmare of a traffic stop by two, City of Pasadena Police Officers: Brendan Thebeau (Badge # 8402) and Carey (Badge # 1274). These male, police officers stopped the women under the color of law, arriving in a marked police vehicle, while wearing police uniforms, and carrying firearms on their waistbands. The officers advised Ms. Brown that she was stopped because a helicopter identified her as running a stop sign five (5) minutes prior.”

The complaint continues, “Then, without probable cause, reasonable suspicion, consent, or any justification, Officers Thebeau and Carey, ordered Brown and Thompson to exit their vehicle. At this time, both women were dressed in skin-tight, workout-style clothing. The officers then feigned a justification to “search” and sexually assault Sharaya Brown and Sharell Thompson. For example, Officer Thebeau literally ordered the Ms. Thompson to lift her shirt, forcing her to expose her breasts in public. Next, a mortified Ms. Thompson was forced to watch Officer Carey “search,” fondle, sexually assault, and molest her daughter, Sharaya Brown, using his bare hands to rub between her legs, in the area of her crotch and vagina, placing his hands in her pants pockets, front and back, and reaching inside the back of her pants in the area of her buttocks. Officers Thebeau and Carey found no evidence of any illegal substance, material, or activity.”

According to Pasadena’s official statement:

“As per Department policies and procedures, the officers remained professional the entire time, assessed the situation, speaking with the individuals and conducting appropriate and necessary searches of the individuals (a waist-band check for weapons) and of the vehicle. After the vehicle and individuals were searched and questioned, they were free to leave the scene.  

“When the Police Department received a personnel complaint, a thorough review of the incident was undertaken per Department policy. The in-car camera footage from the patrol car clearly shows that the officers acted appropriately.”

Pasadena Independent asked the plaintiffs’ attorney, Dakar Diourbel, why there was a two-year delay in filing the suit. Diourbel categorically stated that his clients didn’t initially want to file a suit, merely a complaint and hoped the city would investigate and address their serious allegations. Even though the mother immediately drove to the Pasadena Police Department after the stop to file a complaint, the police department failed to seriously investigate the claims and refused to take any disciplinary action against the officers, the lawsuit alleges.

Then Police chief, Phillip Sanchez, acknowledged receipt of the complaint on May 26, 2016 and subsequently sent another letter on March 19, 2017 stating that the “allegations did not occur and the case was closed.”

UPDATED: July 17, 2018 @3:30 p.m.

After the City of Pasadena released the video, we contacted the plaintiff’s attorney for comment. In a written statement, received by Pasadena Independent, Dakar Diourbel alleges that the police dash cam tape was “doctored.”

The statement from Diourbel & Associates reads:

“Today, the City of Pasadena released a video purporting to be an accurate and complete version of the police dash-cam video, from May 2, 2016, the incident alleged in the complaint. However, our clients contend that the police dash-cam video posted to the City of Pasadena’s website is an edited version that does not show the full extent of the officers’ search activity, actions, etc.  Also, corroborating evidence, such as the police unit’s ‘call history’ and any police body-cam footage, has not been produced to date. Furthermore, this version of the video does not contain many of the indications of an authentic police, dash-cam video, such as, time/date stamp, ambient audio, dialogue from the officers, voices of the subjects of the traffic stop, traffic noise, police sirens, etc. Thus, we look forward to viewing a copy of the original police dash-cam video from this encounter. For these reasons, we are unsure of the extent to which the video released today was ‘doctored’ to give an appearance of a less intrusive search. However, we look forward to the results of any forensic video analysis which should shed light on these perceived discrepancies.”

UPDATED: July 17, 2018 @4:50 p.m.

In reaction to the attorney’s claim of the city “doctoring” the video, Pasadena PIO Lisa Derderian sent out the following statement:

“The attempt today by attorney Dakar Diourbel to discredit a police vehicle video of a traffic stop from May 2, 2016, is baseless. The only modification of video of the incident was the intentional blurring of the license plate number of the vehicle, done only to protect the involved individuals. Because the incident occurred in 2016, it was prior to the implementation of body-worn cameras on Pasadena police officers. The City of Pasadena stands by the truth.”

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