SF police officer alleges racial profiling in lawsuit against city

A San Francisco police officer who claims he was racially profiled has sued The City and several fellow officers in federal court for allegedly choking him and tackling him to the ground during a traffic stop in May.

Lorenzo Adamson, 43, filed the civil-rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Oakland on Tuesday against the city of San Francisco, Police Chief Greg Suhr and officers Brian Stansbury, Daniel Dudley and Christopher O’Brien.

Adamson, an officer at the Bayview Police Station, was on disability leave because of a back injury at the time of the stop in the Bayview district May 30.

Adamson says in the lawsuit that he was pulled over because the license plate on his Honda Accord was not visible.

The lawsuit alleges that instead of asking Adamson for his license and registration, Stansbury asked him whether he was on parole or probation.

As Adamson, who is black, got out of his car and tried to explain that he was a police officer on disability leave, Dudley allegedly began applying a chokehold on him and tackled him to the ground, the lawsuit claims.

The officers allegedly then grabbed Adamson’s police gun, handcuffed him, and held him face-down on the ground until backup officers arrived and identified him as a member of the police force, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that the officers’ treatment caused Adamson severe pain and also aggravated his back injury. Adamson remains on leave.

Adamson’s attorney, John Burris, said shortly after the incident that Adamson had his license plate inside his car but that it wasn’t visible because he had problems mounting it.

Adamson was initially charged with resisting arrest and not displaying a license plate, but all charges were later dropped by the District Attorney’s Office, according to the lawsuit.

Matt Dorsey, a spokesman for the City Attorney’s Office, said, “Our litigation team is reviewing the case. It would be premature for us to comment substantively.”Bay Area NewsCrimeCrime & CourtsLorenzo AdamsonPolice Chief Greg SuhrSan Francisco Police

Previous story
UC President Janet Napolitano proposes tuition freeze at regents meeting
Next story
Fish & Wildlife Service announces $1.24 billion plan for Bay Area wetlands

Just Posted

Niners defensive end Arik Armstead reacts during a disappointing 31-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 7, 2021. (Photo courtesy of San Francisco 49ers)
Niners embarrassed at home: Time to blame the braintrust

It all looked good for San Francisco, until the game started

California, for the first time, will lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a result of the 2020 Census. (Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./CalMatters/iStock)
A Bay Area redistricting tale to remember

Without redrawn lines after the 1980 Census, Nancy Pelosi’s speakership would never have been

Health care experts agree that seniors and people whose immune systems are weakened should get a booster. <ins>(Courtesy SF.gov)</ins>
Do you need a booster shot to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

San Francisco doctors and health officials differ on the topic

Housing and population growth in San Francisco’s District 6, which includes the South of Market area, will have a big effect on how The City’s political map is redrawn.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Redrawing San Francisco’s political map

Redistricting task force to plot new supervisorial districts

A 21-unit building at 53 Columbus Ave. was slated for demolition in 2011, but a coalition of residents and nonprofits bought it and converted it into an affordable co-op.<ins> (Kevin N. Hume/The Examiner)</ins>
Co-ops could help solve San Francisco’s affordable housing crisis

The City looks at this less expensive avenue to home ownership

Most Read