Judge rejects bid to stop lawsuit over Black Teen's Death: West Haven Officers Turned Police Dog on Tyson

A federal judge says three West Haven police officers should stand trial in a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of a teenager who was struck and killed by a pickup truck on Interstate 95 while running from police.

The family of Gary "Chris" Tyson is accusing West Haven police of using excessive force, because officers unleashed a police dog that tracked and bit Tyson in September 2002 after he was involved in a fight. The dog repeatedly bit Chris Tyson before he bolted into rush-hour traffic.  Tyson was fleeing from the officer and the dog when he was hit by the truck. He was 18 years old. Black community leaders protested the death and blamed the white officers for causing the black youth's death.

U.S. District Judge Robert Chatigny (CHAT-nee) has rejected West Haven's request for summary judgment, a move that clears the way for the case to go before a jury. The teen's father Charles Tyson said, "I always felt that the police was lying." "Their story didn't make sense to us. We needed answers, and we weren't getting any." West Haven officials say they are reviewing the ruling and haven't decided yet whether to appeal. [MORE] and [MORE]