Oakland To Pay $15K Excessive Force Settlement to Black Man Beaten/ Shot by Cops

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 ]