SACRAMENTO -- A man claims he suffered after being brutalized by police.
Adan Martinez filed a complaint on July 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against the City of Sacramento, Eric Toomey, Nicholas Caro and Does 1-10 for violation of Civil Rights, police brutality, unreasonable search and seizure, municipality liability, false arrest, battery and negligence.
According to the complaint, in the final hours of February 14, 2021, and/or the early hours of February 15, 2021, Martinez was asked to come to the house of his children's mother because his vehicle was on fire and his belongings were blazing.
Martinez arrived on the street of the house and saw Sacramento police officers waiting for him, so he decided to drive past the residence. The police dashcam video shows Martinez being pursued by Sacramento police officers until he pulled into a parking lot and was surrounded by officers who rammed into the back of his vehicle, the suit says.
Martinez attempted a safe three-point turn to drive around the officers and the police fired more than 20 shots at his vehicle, with nine or more shots striking him in the shoulder, arm, chest, stomach, pelvic area, hand and wrist, the suit says. Martinez laid in the vehicle bleeding to death as more rounds were fired, he claims.
Officers then approached the vehicle and Martinez was transported to Kaiser Permanente Hospital. Martinez alleges having lost the use of his left hand because of the injuries from the bullets.
Martinez seeks compensatory and special damages, loss of income, punitive damages, attorneys fees and cost of suit. Martinez is represented by Reza Sina.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California case number 2:21-cv-01223-MCE-CKD