Shoppes shooting victims file federal suit in case

Source: San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.自存倉Aug. 27--CHINO HILLS -- Three Chino men, two of whom were shot by an off-duty Huntington Park police officer at the Shoppes of Chino Hills shopping plaza on Oct. 4, have filed a federal lawsuit in the case.In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court July 17, attorneys for the three men say the defendants named in the suit are responsible for the injuries, trauma, intentional infliction of emotional distress following the road rage-inspired shooting.Attorneys also claim the civil rights of Addison Weeks, Brian Sloma and Kenneth Chan were violated by the city of Huntington Park, Huntington Park Police and Police Chief Jorge Cisneros, San Bernardino County, former San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops, unnamed deputies of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and Huntington Park Police Officer Ricardo S. Curiel."We think there's a cover-up in this case," said plantiffs' attorney Steven J. Brown. "This cop was considered the victim even though he shot our clients."On Oct. 4, Weeks, Sloma, Chan and one other man were driving on the 71 Freeway when Curiel allegedly began tailgating the four, according to the complaint.Sloma tapped his brakes to get Curiel to back away, but according to the complaint that action enraged the off-duty officer further.Curiel allegedly began tailgating the four in a dangerous and unsafe manner, the complaint said.Sloma again tapped on his brakes which finally forced Curiel to distance his car from theirs, according to the complaint.Sloma drove the car into the parking lots of the Shoppes shopping center and after circling the parking lot being closely followed by Curiel, he pulled his car in a parking stall, according to initial reports.Curiel pulled up behind the car in a felony stop formation, according to the complaint. That's when shots rang out.Authorities said the shooting was sparked by road rage but did not say who detectives believed was the aggressor or provide details of the incident.Weeks, Sloma and Chan were all arrested after the San Bernardino County sheriff's investigation.Sloma and Weeks were shot and wounded that October night, Brown said."These kids were considered suspects because Curiel is a co迷你倉新蒲崗 plain and simple," Brown said. "The police and sheriff's department aren't sharing any information with us at all. They're taking their time, and we're not waiting any more."Curiel told investigators that October night the four men got out of their vehicle and approached him. He said he saw objects in the hands of two of the four men, according to sheriff's officials at the time of the incident.Curiel then opened fire, wounding Weeks and Sloma.Department policy states that when an internal investigation is conducted, the subject is placed on administrative leave with pay, a Huntington Park police spokesman said.Police refused to comment on the pending lawsuit.Following the shooting, deputies found an 8-inch knife and a can of pepper spray within the crime scene outside one of the cars.Curiel reportedly fired several shots, striking two of the men. It was unclear if he ever identified himself as an off-duty officer prior to firing.The complaint said Weeks and Sloma were struck multiple times as they ran away from Curiel.San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman at the time of the shooting said Curiel was considered a private citizen at the time and was carrying a concealed weapon legally.Two witnesses said they heard gunshots while inside the California Pizza restaurant, went outside and saw two people lying on the ground.Dispatch reports said deputies searched the parking lot for weapons. It was not disclosed if they found any.After an internal investigation, Curiel returned to active duty with the department."It's our understanding that he was taken off for three months and reinstated and has been patrolling Huntington Park ever since," Brown said.The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office can't comment on the lawsuit because it is reviewing a criminal case in the incident, spokesman Christopher Lee said."We don't anticipate any charges to be filed in the criminal case," Brown said.The defendants named in the lawsuit have denied all accusations and refused to comment.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, Calif.) Visit the San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, Calif.) at .sbsun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉出租