FL: Deputy Who Shot Man Holding Cell Phone Has Property Taken to Help Pay Civil Judgement

[SeanTX]

Needs to happen more often ...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/pa...111-story.html

Marshals seize deputy's car, clothes to help pay $22.4 million awarded in shooting

Lisa J. Huriash Sun Sentinel

Federal marshals have seized the car, furniture and other belongings of a Palm Beach sheriff's sergeant who was found liable by a jury for shooting an unarmed man, leaving him paralyzed.

The property was seized Saturday at Deputy Adams Lin's house, according to Barry Golden, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service.

A jury awarded Dontrell Stephens — the wounded man who was left unable to walk — more than $23.1 million, an amount later lowered to $22.4 million, in a lawsuit against Lin and the Sheriff's Office.

Four marshals knocked on Lin's townhouse door and served him the court order detailing how his property would be taken, said Stephens' attorney, Jack Scarola.

Lin read the court order, became visibly shaken, and fainted, collapsing to the ground, Scarola said.

Paramedics were called and when Lin recovered, he sat on a sheriff's squad car and watched movers load up his belongings and "empty out virtually everything," Scarola said.

Last year, in a case against both Deputy Adams Lin (pictured) and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, a jury awarded Dontrell Stephens $23.1 million in damages, an amount later lowered to $22.4 million.

Among the items taken: his car, couch, coffee tables, end tables, lamps, his collection of Samurai swords, flatscreen TV, iron, ironing board, computer, golf clubs, bicycle, tools, and almost all of his non-Sheriff's Office clothing, Scarola said.

"I don't think we took any shoes and I don't think we took any underwear," Scarola said. But "shirts and pants and shorts are all gone, jackets."

"We left behind cups and saucers and dishes," he said. "There's nothing of any significant value in those."


The shooting happened in September 2013 when Lin, then a deputy, pulled over Stephens for a bicycle infraction.

Lin said he was afraid for his life, but later learned Stephens had only been holding a broken cellphone.

Lin fired four bullets. Three remain lodged in Stephens' body, two in his arm and one in his spine. The one in his spine left Stephens paralyzed and needing to use a wheelchair.

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[tod evans]

This has all the signs of being one of the best threads ever!

[Anti Federalist]

[phill4paul]

About. Damned. Time.

[presence]

hell the $#@! yes

[Anti Federalist]

About. Damned. Time.

Way Past Damned Time.

[JK/SEA]

Lin was just doing what he was trained to do...he'll win an appeal, and get a raise and promotion.

this is just more proof of the war on cops.....

blue lives matter.

[fisharmor]

Unfortunately the way this is going to translate to police training is:
If you're going to shoot someone holding a cellphone, make sure he dies.

[squarepusher]

I hope the police department has to pay also. $23 million judgement against a Deputy will probably only yield like $50k in property they can "Take from him," and the person in the wheelchain deserves more. So, I hope this isn't a way for the state to just skirt responsibility to the officer, although I do like that the Deputy is financially getting punished (I would like it more if he was treated like any of us would be , attempted murder and 10-20years in jail?)

[GunnyFreedom]

This is so overdue. Not many comments supporting the thug but thee are a couple. Two people whining how they were too harsh on the cop, that taking his clothes was just a bridge too far. $#@!S!!! WTF you gonna bitch about a pair of Nikes instead of an innocent WHO WILL NEVER WALK AGAIN???? I swear copsuckers are worse than the fn cops.