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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

California Man Calls for Independent Investigation of Police Force

Lawsuits
Police

HOLD. SENT WRITER A QUESTION. - JULIE

SAN JOSE – A California man is asking for an external investigation into the conduct of the Morgan Hill Police Department after was allegedly beaten unconscious by police after a 2016 domestic disturbance call. 

Gary Easley says that July 13, 2016, he was punched in the face and beaten until he was unconscious before a stun gun was used on him after he had already been shackled by law enforcement. He alleges this occurred without provocation.

Easley filed his suit July 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the city of Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County, Morgan Hill Police Department and others over allegations of malicious prosecution, assault and battery and other counts. He is representing himself.

Easley claims that the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office took no action on the alleged matter, adding that the Morgan Hill Police Department has a "systematic pattern of conduct that exists consisting of a large number of acts, illegal arrests, illegal searches and seizures, intimidations, torture, and other illegal acts." 

The lawsuit states that the internal affairs department continues to "conceal the misconduct of the officers." 

Easley is asking that an independent monitor be appointed to oversee both the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department and Morgan Hill Police Department for at least a decade. Additionally, he asks that mandatory annual reports be conducted, a citizen's police review committee be created and that the monitor is provided authority to hire, fire and promote all Santa Clara fire and police officials, including the chief of police.  

This is not the first incident involving Morgan Hill Police and Easley. In 2010, filed a claim stemming from a 2009 incident where he claimed Morgan Hill Police punched in the face after he was allegedly found trespassing on a Morgan Hill officer's property. That suit was settled for $35,000, according to reports. 

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