Wrongful Death Claim Filed in the Case of JT Thomas

Photo by Terry Miller

Attorney disputes Chief Sanchez’s account(s) of involved officers

By Terry Miller

The attorney representing the family of a man who died in police custody after being hit with Tasers in Pasadena late last month has filed a wrongful-death claim against the city and its police department.

One of the involved officers is identified by the attorney in the claim as one of two involved in the controversial shooting of an unarmed 19-year-old black man in 2012.

Reginald Thomas Jr., 35, died early Sept. 29 after police used Tasers on him and wrestled him into custody at an apartment complex on Orange Grove after he confronted officers with a large knife and a fire extinguisher.

In a claim seeking unspecific damages over $25,000 filed Friday, attorney Caree Harper accused Pasadena police of wrong-doing and negligence that ultimately resulted in the death of a father of eight children.

Police Chief Philip Sanchez has released all the names of the officers who responded last month.

“The following officers responded to the 911 call at the location and were involved in the altercation with Mr. Thomas: Officer Thomas Butler, Officer Robert Griffith, Officer Michael Orosco, Officer Philip Poirier, Officer Raphael Santiago and Officer Aaron Villacana. Shortly after Thomas had been restrained, Officer Jeffrey Newlen arrived at the location and assisted with CPR.

Per Pasadena Police Department protocol, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau was asked to investigate the death of Mr. Thomas. Additionally, there will be an independent investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and an administrative investigation by Pasadena Police Department,” Phillip Sanchez said in a press release.

Harper, however, contends that one of [responding officers] was Officer Mathew Griffin, one of two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Kendrec McDade, 19, of Azusa in March 2012. A second officer, Sgt. Aguilar, is named in the claim by rank and last name only.

With the Thomas’ case, the conduct of city employees “constitutes federal and state constitutional violations, which include wrongful death, assault, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, negligent hiring, negligent training, negligent retention, specifically as to Officer Mathew Griffin, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil code violations,” according to the claim.

Harper also alleges negligence on behalf of four Pasadena firefighters who were called to the scene.

According to the coroner, the autopsy report is not going to be released immediately. There is a “security hold” on those documents, which is not uncommon when police officers are being accused of misconduct.

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