Family Of Woman Seen Being Beaten By CHP Officer Files Civil-Rights Lawsuit
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The family of a homeless woman seen being beaten by a CHP officer on cellphone video filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit Thursday on her behalf.
CBS2's Greg Mills attended a news conference held by Marlene Pinnock's family and her family's attorneys, Caree Harper and John Burris.
They said Thursday that Pinnock is still in a hospital being treated for her injuries as a result of the beating July 1 along the Santa Monica Freeway.
"I'm just here standing up for my mom," said Pinnock's daughter, Maisha Allums, "and speaking up against police brutality."
The news conference was held in front of the FBI building, and the location was picked on purpose.
"We need the FBI to investigate, or at least start to investigate, do something," Harper said.
Pinnock's family wants the FBI to file an attempted murder charge against the unidentified CHP officer.
The group, including Allums' husband and brother, also said it upset them that the CHP has refused to identify the officer.
"We will get his name, we will get his name," Harper said.
The CHP told Mills their bill of rights prohibits them from releasing the name during an active investigation.
Pinnock's attorneys said they were also outraged to learn the CHP filed a felony search warrant at the hospital to obtain her medical records.
"They obtained personal statements she made to her doctors, to her lawyers. They obtained the complete medical files stemming from the incident," Harper said.
"I'm not certain they got incriminating evidence," said Burris, "but that was their motive, or otherwise they wouldn't have done it."
The CHP told Mills they had no comment during the investigation process.
Mills also reached out to the FBI for a comment, but he says "They didn't call back."
RELATED LINKS:
CHP Seizes Medical Records Of Woman Seen Punched On Freeway
Community Leaders Call For Attorney General's Investigation Into CHP Beating Video
Family, Attorney Plan Lawsuit On Behalf Of Woman Seen Repeatedly Punched By CHP Officer
CHP Answers Excessive Force Charge In Beating Of Woman On Side Of Freeway
