Racial epithetsExcessive forceFalse arrest or reportPhysical forceGunAssault or battery to an officer chargesWeapons chargesResisting or obstructing arrest charges
Plaintiff:
Seneca Adams
Incident date:
09/14/2004
Allegations:
Seneca Adams was running home when Officers Riley, O'Shaughnessy and Hopkins of the Special Operations Section approached him from behind with their guns drawn and ordered him to get on the ground. Even though Adams complied, Riley kicked and punched him in the face, handcuffed him and continued to hit him as he put him in a squad car. Some of the officers called Adams a "nigger.” His neighbors saw the assault and threw rocks and debris at the officers and yelled at them. As the officers headed to a police station, Adams' brother and sister, Tari and Sicara, followed them to find out what was happening. Near 26th Street and Sacramento Avenue, the police officers stopped next to the Adams' car, and Officer Herrera reached through a car window and punched Tari in the face. The Adamses left but when the car was stopped at a red light O'Shaughnessy and Hopkins hit the side of the car with their police cruiser. When Sicara and Tari got out, officers tackled Tari and hit him several times in the back of the head. The Adams siblings were each charged with various felonies and misdemeanors, including aggravated battery/assault to a police officer and unlawful use of a weapon. The charges against Sicara were dismissed. Tari and Seneca were acquitted of felony charges and initially found guilty of misdemeanors, but those charges were also dismissed when evidence surfaced that the officers had been involved in similar misconduct.