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On behalf of the family of 13-year-old Linden Cameron, who was shot and severely wounded by a Salt Lake City police officer on September 4, 2020, Cutt, Kendell & Olson has filed suit against the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD), as reported by Fox 13.
About the Family’s Case
The claim has been filed in a United States District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division. Linden’s parents, Golda Barton and Michael Cameron, are named as the claimants, taking on SLCPD Chief Mike Brown, the city, and the officer who shot their son.
Among the suit’s allegations lies the claim that excessive force was used on Linden when the officer pulled the boy’s arm out from under his body to handcuff him, rolling him onto his back and pinning his arms after the police officer had already shot at his back 11 times. As Fox 13 reported, the suit alleges that this all occurred after Linden had told the officer he could no longer feel his arm. Furthermore, the suit claims that Linden was unarmed at the time.
Due to the unnecessary actions of the police officer, Linden’s left arm has been paralyzed, and he has suffered ankle injuries, internal organ damage, severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and more.
Leading Up to the Shooting
One of the most upsetting parts of this case is the fact that Linden’s mother had called 911 requesting the help of a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), even stating that Linden needed a “mental health worker, because he’s sick.” She warned that he might have had a BB or pellet gun on his person. However, he had not committed any crime; there was no ongoing investigation concerning a crime. Rather, Linden is a teenager living with autism and Asperger’s, and he simply needed assistance at the time of the incident.
Despite his mother’s 911 call being a request for the help of a CIT, four SLCPD officers were dispatched to the scene instead. In the suit, we allege on behalf of our clients that these officers were not trained as mental health workers nor did they receive sufficient training in how to de-escalate a situation. (For example, there were no de-escalation tactics used prior to the shooting.) If these officers were properly trained or if the correct public servants were dispatched to address the situation, the outcome would have been much different.
Our Firm Fights Back Against Police Brutality
After national attention has already been brought time and again to the issue of police brutality, the time for something to be done is overdue. Our lawyers at Cutt, Kendell & Olson filed this suit with heavy hearts but also with a determination to win this family justice for what has happened. To learn more about this case, we invite you to read our press release.
Contact Cutt, Kendell & Olson online or call us at (801) 901-3470 if you are seeking the help of an acclaimed attorney concerning a police brutality case.