The Oakland City
Council has voted to pay $15,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a Black
man who was shot by police and kicked in the groin after leading
police on a high speed chase, slamming his car into a police car and
allegedly pointing a gun at police. Troy Barnes, who was convicted of
bank robbery for the Aug. 21, 1998, incident, is now serving a 75-year
sentence at the Salinas Valley State Prison for multiple bank
robberies.Shortly after the incident, Oakland police said officers
fired multiple rounds at Barnes after he pointed a handgun at them. But
Haddad said police officers shouted conflicting commands to Barnes to
"freeze" and also to throw his gun out of the car. Haddad said police
fired 51 shots at Barnes as he attempted to throw a gun out of his car.
Haddad said Barnes didn't fire any shots and fell out of the car
severely wounded. As Barnes lay on the ground bleeding profusely,
Oakland Officer Edwin Somarriba kicked him in the groin, Haddad said. A
videographer captured the incident on tape and it was shown on local
television news programs. Barnes still hasn't recovered from all
of his gunshot wounds. [more ]
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