Anaheim sued in fatal police shooting; Disney statue of deceased requested by his family

**Terminator** · 12-31-08, 10:41 PM

ANAHEIM The parents of the innocent man shot and killed by an Anaheim police officer in October filed a lawsuit in federal court today against the city of Anaheim, claiming wrongful death and civil-rights violations.
The family also issued a statement calling upon Walt Disney Co. officials to install a memorial statue on Disneyland's Main Street in Alexander's honor.
The statue would "serve as a message of healing and reconciliation to the community and a reminder that deadly force should be eliminated from the streets of Anaheim," according to a statement released by the family's attorney, Richard Herman.
Julian Alexander, 20, was shot and killed in his front yard by an officer in pursuit of burglary suspects Oct. 28. Later that day, Police Chief John Welter announced that Alexander was an innocent bystander.
Disneyland is not part of the lawsuit. "Clearly this is a tragic situation, but it has nothing to do with Disneyland,” said Suzi Brown, spokeswoman for Disneyland Resort.
Attorneys for Anaheim have denied any wrongdoing by the Anaheim Police Department and the officer – who has only been identified publicly as a 10-year veteran of the department who is 32 years old. The officer is on paid leave pending further investigation. Christina Talley, Anaheim's acting city attorney, declined further comment until the city gets a chance to review Tuesday's court filing.
The lawsuit was filed this morning in United States District Court in Santa Ana on behalf of Julian Alexander's parents, Jerry Alexander and Sheryl Bell. They are no longer married.
Their attorney, Herman, said another claim is being filed on behalf of Alexander's widow and the couple's baby girl, Maylia, who was born Dec. 5. Eventually, the two lawsuits likely will be combined, Herman said.
The suit claims that in the early morning hours of Oct. 28, an Anaheim police officer approached Alexander without probable cause to believe he had committed or would commit a crime. Then without warning, the officer "repeatedly and unjustifiably discharged his department-issued firearm. …
"Following the shooting, the involved officers denied medical care to Mr. Alexander in a manner that demonstrated deliberate indifference to his constitutional rights," the suit goes on to says.
Police officials have not publicly provided a detailed scenario as to what happened that night.
The suit asks for damages, including for funeral expenses, medical expenses, legal costs and for undetermined general and punitive damages.
In a separate letter, Alexander's parents joined with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference – an organization founded during the push for black civil rights – to call upon Disney's president and CEO, Robert Iger, to consider placing the statue inside Disneyland. Alexander was black.
"We believe that Anaheim is a company town, and that Disneyland plays a serious role in the community," Herman said. "For Julian's parents, this isn't about the money, it's about honoring a man who didn't deserve to die and preventing it from ever happening again."

**Morris** · 01-01-09, 12:27 AM

What a family of retards. Disney has one memorial plaque and statue - and that's to the man himself. What next? Sue Disney because they told the family to pound sand?

**CTR man** · 01-01-09, 01:13 AM

More Attention Whores. This state (CA) is full of them.

**Xiphos** · 01-01-09, 01:26 AM

There has to be waaaay more to this story than is being told...

**Bob Loblaw** · 01-01-09, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by Terminator

The statue would "serve as a message of healing and reconciliation to the community and a reminder that deadly force should be eliminated from the streets of Anaheim,"

wow. simply unbelieveable. I understand this is a tough time for the family, but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

**Odd** · 01-01-09, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Bob Loblaw

wow. simply unbelieveable. I understand this is a tough time for the family, but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

It sure is. Now consider, according to other reports Mr Alexander heard a ruckus and responded by going outside with weapon (one account said stick, another said club). While the minutes between him exiting the house and his death are not well known to us, or anyone else commenting on this unfortunate event, this much is known: he, quite rightly, took an instrument of deadly force with him. What unintended outcome it played in the following events I don't know and may never.

I too feel for his family. They, though, are spitting on his grave with such a statement. It is the most basic right of a man to defend himself; as Mr Alexander was doing when he chose put himself in harm's way to confront a threat that night; as some people I know do day and night.

**bayern** · 01-01-09, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Xiphos

There has to be waaaay more to this story than is being told...

There always is. If you believe whats in the print media, you believe Bill Clinton didn't have sex with Monica

**Jenna** · 01-01-09, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by bayern

There always is. If you believe whats in the print media, you believe Bill Clinton didn't have sex with Monica

Depends on how you define "sex".

**Captain America** · 01-01-09, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Jenna

Depends on how you define "sex".

Translation= Which hole did he hit?

**Xiphos** · 01-01-09, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Odd

It sure is. Now consider, according to other reports Mr Alexander heard a ruckus and responded by going outside with weapon (one account said stick, another said club). While the minutes between him exiting the house and his death are not well known to us, or anyone else commenting on this unfortunate event, this much is known: he, quite rightly, took an instrument of deadly force with him. What unintended outcome it played in the following events I don't know and may never.

I too feel for his family. They, though, are spitting on his grave with such a statement. It is the most basic right of a man to defend himself; as Mr Alexander was doing when he chose put himself in harm's way to confront a threat that night; as some people I know do day and night.

That's why we wear uniforms and that's how off duty cops end up getting shot every year. He went outside and got into some kind of confrontation with a cop while holding a weapon. We know the outcome. Not a smart idea.