A disturbing lawsuit has been filed against the Baltimore County Police Department by Linda Johnson over the death of her husband, Architect Carl D. Johnson on May 27, 2010. Johnson was pepper sprayed, tasered, and beaten before his death on the way home from Bible study class.
Linda Johnson is suing the Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police, individual commanders and six officers. Her lawsuit claims that her husband suffered a diabetic attack after calling a friend and crashing on I-795. First to the scene was State Trooper Davon Parker who pepper sprayed Johnson after he lowered his window of his car, which had crashed into the median. When Johnson got out of the car, Parker clubbed him on the knee and then allegedly another officer (Loss) clubbed him. When Baltimore County Police Officer Nicholas Wolferman arrived, he also allegedly beat Johnson. Three more officers arrived and one, Baltimore County Officer Andrew O’Neill tasered Johnson twice. Officer Loss then allegedly punched him in the face. Eight more officers then arrived — leaving one wondering if there were any officers left at headquarters. The complaint states that “there were approximately 52 individuals that responded to the scene.”
We have been following cases involving the use of tasers and excessive force by police. However, Baltimore has been cited as a standout jurisdiction in the use of tasers — leading to calls for investigation.
Johnson was only 48 and lives behind his wife of 27 years. Their son, Darren Johnson, predeceased his parents and Linda has now lost her husband.
Source: Courthouse
“It is also possible that Mr. Johnson violently attacked the officer responding to the scene, smashed his head on the ground repeatedly, delivered MMA punches, told him, “You’re gonna die tonight” and thus provoked his own death. Do we know what he was wearing?”
LOL
Jon,
Why next thing you will do is outlaw cars, they kill many more—in the hands of drunks, etc. Like they say, it ain’t the gun that kills, it’s the man holding it.
So let’s outlaw cops carrying weapons, they are not capable to control themselves. Particularly ones from the military who can’t find civilian employment and seek this way out.
In the aftermath of previous wars vets were non-violent in attitudes. Now it seems the opposite is true. Why?
And while the Professor is fixing freedom of Vodka choice in Idaho, what has he done about these flagrant cases?
Or is it Joe Lawyer against the combined police forces involved here.
I don’t know his record, but it seems reasonable to ask to what use his prestige and capability is being used for.
Why isn’t there a class action lawsuit against taser manufacturers? At the very least the fact tasers are touted as non-lethal force and advertised as such is specious since there are approximately 50 deaths from tasers annually.
Nothing has changed since Kent State except the weapons that the police use. They added the stun gun (Taser). Police are still hiring former military as police and they all went through the military brain washing that so many can’t undo that makes them over aggressive. Maybe this is a trait that we should test for and eliminate the police applicants that show this aggression.
“God Bless Mrs. Johnson and her family and the people of Baltimore.”
“I pray for you and the officers who are involved.”
“There are no good reasons to beat a man to death with police aggression”
“Dear God, forgive all of us for our sins!”
I’m very sorry to hear this story. I have my own horror story (which I will not share) of my son-in-law, a former NYPD. I pray for the NYPD. I hope this kind of behavior stops. I think some of it has to do with drug dealers get away with murder.
patriciafrombrooklyn
Shano, it’s only because of the terrible media that we heard about this thug whom the police had to kill.
Has a special prosecutor been appointed?
I frankly don’t think things have changed much over the years but perhaps in the past, this death would have been put down as “Driver resisted arrest” and there would have been no investigation into what happened. Probably even NOW most of the incidents of this kind go that route. We probably only hear about the exceptions to the rule that “nobody tells.” Naturally, bad behavior, including murder, increases when other bad behavior is rewarded by escaping punishment. We have the kind of society that is as likely to punish victims as perps, and most of it is never revealed as such.
Malisha, yea, this was a secret Christian gang member who was stashing his tools of real criminal activity at the church.
He might have had a trace of THC in his bloodstream too.
52 responders, and I’m sure not one working dashcam.
Yet another disgusting, no longer shocking, piece about horrendous police abuse. These stories keep reaching the public, yet they keep happening. Why can’t we the people hold these thugs responsible?
I used to screen police candidtaes. Law enforcement agencies have limited windows and funding for new recruits and these often don’t coincide with having a decent pool. Unfortunately, law enforcement takes care of its own. I hope she is awarded enough to retire.
Whether it is Mr Panetta telling the world that the US will continue the drone strikes or the police mercilessly beating ang killing an unarmed man, this conduct grows from the same seed–we do it because we can. Every time nothing happens to show that this behavior is wrong the next action becomes more heinous more destructive. These police officers think and in most cases they are right that they will not be punished for this behavior. Mr Panetta thinks he won’t have to answer for the drones either after all Cheney has never even had to answer any questions under oath on his conduct. Accountability is only for the small people and the weak.
WHY DON’T THESE POLICEMEN GO TO JAIL?
(seriously, I want to know what happens to these cops who kill innocent people)
Is George Zimmerman their ideal candidate for police training these days?
Good god, none of us are safe from the police now.
Has the training changed? The qualifications?
Do they have to take psychological testing to weed out the degenerates or are they purposefully looking for the deprived mind?
And now they have all the weapons of a modern military.
Disgraceful behavior by the police. Unfortunately, it all too common.
What the hell?
Why would they have any reason to lay a single finger on Johnson?
This makes me sick to my stomach.
These punk officers should go to jail, general population with a sign on their backs saying “former police officer, in for police brutality & homocide”
See how they like getting the crap beat out of them by a crowd of goons.
It is also possible that Mr. Johnson violently attacked the officer responding to the scene, smashed his head on the ground repeatedly, delivered MMA punches, told him, “You’re gonna die tonight” and thus provoked his own death. Do we know what he was wearing?
Oh, don’t worry… That area is in the middle of several precincts… They probably had people back at HQ at each of them, and just kept calling more from each one.
One more tragic example of the “us v. them” mentality infecting too many law enforcement agencies.
Linda sounds like a strong woman. I hope some good comes from the case.