Cops Kill Boy, Fuck Taxpayers Out of $28 Million

Cops shoot unarmed pre-teen boy in the back, department attempts coverup. Now taxpayers are on the hook for 28 million dollars.

Two Pennsylvania state troopers intentionally shot an unarmed 12-year-old Uniontown boy [named Michael Ellerbe] in the back, and his family deserves more than $28 million in damages, a federal jury found Tuesday. The verdict in the civil rights case capped three weeks of court proceedings and nearly four days of jury deliberations. It was the first wrongful death verdict against the state police in recent memory and the largest payment ever imposed against the agency.

No criminal charges have been filed against Juan Curry and Samuel Nassan, the two cops involved in the shooting. What's more, as far as I can tell, both Curry and Nassan are still on the force.

Oh, and here's a nice little factoid: the Pennsylvania DUI Association gave Nassan its 'Top Gun' award three times since the 2002 shooting.

Top Gun. You don't say.

I suppose it's possible to spin the Ellerbe case differently, as this anonymous (of course) commenter on the newsgroup alt.guns did:

"Another nigger family with a nigger troublemaker for a son now wants money because the punk defied police and died for his stupidity."

That's pretty much the white-trash equivalent of what WASPs like Geraldine Ferarro know to put into kinder, gentler terms — but I digress.

Michael Ellerbe was probably no angel. When Curry and Nassan spotted him, he was either behind the wheel or in the passenger seat (accounts differ) of a stolen Bronco. He fled on foot when the cops yelled at him to stop, clearly a dumb move.

But Michael was 12. He was unarmed. They shot him in the back. And then they lied about it.

From where I sit, the verdict is one step closer to justice. The next step would have to be a criminal trial where a jury will decide what should happen to two trigger-happy troopers who, in an unnecessary and unwarranted show of lethal force, thought nothing of shooting at a defenseless 12-year-old who was fleeing from them, neatly severing his spinal cord.

Another case of a cop killing an unarmed boy who's running away from him is here.

Comments

[TWC]

BLAM!

Halt!

[Peter]

It would seem that young Michael Ellerbe has a MOTHER someplace near here.Michael has another man claiming to be his FATHER and a Mother someplace on the east coast.
I know its hard to believe but thios young man DID NOT have a chance when Grand parents,Parents and most family member are CRIMINALS some role model huh.May god bless this young man(the Deceased.

Peter (Phila)

[Peter (Philly)]

The Grandmother Mary Gibson worked for the state of New Jersey and was known to use the state computers to find people with little or no relatives. Did anyone question whether Michael Hickenbottom is really the father.Mary did have to pay back money to social security for FALSE claims. It is alleged that Mary has several identifications. This young man (victim) Michael Ellerbe did not stand a chance with family role models like the Hickenbottoms.But to take BLOOD money is the lowest.These TROOPERS deserve to get on with their lives,let not give any blood money to CRIMINALS.

[Ajlouny]

Shoot first, ask questions later....bad practice. It's about time.

[Michael]

To: All citizens, media and officials against Governmental Corruption
Re: Nassan’s killing of Michael Ellerby on December 24, 2002 and Nassan’s breaking of a man’s ankle on the Southside of Pittsburgh on July 6, 2008 – A reply to Bruce Edwards Letter to the Editor in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on 12-10-08
Total # of Pages: 3

No Officer is above the Law

I felt compelled to reply to the brief letter written by Bruce A. Edwards, President of the Pennsylvania Troopers Association in Harrisburg in response to the November 13, 2008 article in the Post Gazette about Trooper Nassan. Edwards said, “Unfortunately, as police officers we have become all too familiar with people who, despite breaking the law, ignore their misbehavior and blame an arresting officer. This recently happened to Trooper Nassan”. Edwards said this in reference to the recent assault by Nassan on a young man, Christopher Strothers, 27, on the Southside of Pittsburgh where Nassan hurled the man to the ground and broke his ankle. Fortunately, this man is alive to complain about the abuses by Nassan. The 12 year old boy, Michael Ellerby, that Nassan intentionally shot in the back and through the heart as he ran from a stolen car on Christmas Eve 2002 will never be able to complain. Yes, Michael should not have been in or around a stolen car that another local boy stole, however, he did not deserve to be shot in the back like an animal – he was a 12 year old boy.
The latest victim by Nassan had a verbal altercation with his girlfriend on the Southside. The incident ended and was handled by Pittsburgh Police City Officers and the parties involved were dispersing till Nassan arrived. When Nassan arrived, he exhibited the same erratic behavior as he has so many times in the past using excessive force and lying about the facts to avoid responsibility. Fortunately, there were witnesses to Nassan’s erratic behavior and I hope Christopher Strothers is able to sue Nassan personally this time. The taxpayers should not foot the bill of an out of control raving lunatic with a badge. Bruce Edwards and the entire PA State Police Agency are aware of Nassan’s history and pattern for using excessive force and maliciously lying to cover up facts to avoid responsibility.
The original 4 million dollar punitive judgment against Nassan for intentionally shooting Michael Ellerby, using excessive force and maliciously lying to avoid responsibility was obviously not enough of a punitive award to change Nassan’s behavior and he continues the same pattern of erratic and malicious behavior. Because the Pennsylvania State Police Agency is aware of a problem with Nassan and does not do anything to punish him or rehabilitate him, I believe Christopher Strothers deserves a larger punitive judgment to see if this will change Nassan’s continued pattern of using excessive force and malicious behavior, however, the most logical first punishment to Nassan should be his immediate dismissal before another innocent person is harmed.
In all fairness, at minimum Nassan should have been fired after the Michael Ellerby 28 million dollar judgment. However, many believe that he should be tried for homicide.
I have asked myself time and time again, “Why is Sam Nassan still working as Pennsylvania State Trooper after a Jury of 10 found him guilty of intentionally shooting a 12 year old boy in the back and maliciously covering up the facts and lying to avoid fault”. If you or I were found guilty of these crimes, we would be responsible for our actions. How can he be trusted to carry a firearm after intentionally shooting an unarmed boy in the back? How can his signature on any arrest document be trusted after lying and covering up facts? Who else must die or suffer at the hands of this maniac before he is dismissed as PA State Trooper? Hopefully, a good investigative reporter, government official or brave citizen(s) will stand up against this form of governmental corruption. Many had hoped that with the new evidence from the Ellerby Civil Trial U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchannan would have the courage to do the right thing and prosecute these criminals. However, Mary Beth Buchanan has not brought this man to justice and her term is coming to an end soon but, hopefully, a new federal prosecutor will have the courage to do what is right. A new U.S. Attorney that fights for justice is needed and, hopefully, the new administration will be able to give us the new U.S. Attorney that we need.
We, the taxpayers, are paying for Sam Nassan intentionally shooting a 12 year old boy in the back and lying to cover up the facts to avoid responsibility. What punishment did he receive? None. He remains employed without any meaningful form of punishment and he is patrolling out there and continues his pattern of using excessive force against citizens and erratic behavior. Nassan is an embarrassment to those who serve and protect the public and those who have retired from wearing the badge. Nassan is a menace to our society. There cannot be justice with corrupt officers of this magnitude wearing badges and many more innocent civilians will be hurt by Nassan is his pattern of erratic behavior continues to go unpunished.
Many people still hope that Michael Ellerby will soon have justice; however, the recent 12.5 million dollar settlement upon appeal by the State of Pennsylvania does not fully balance justice especially since Nassan continues his use of excessive force even to this day. Maybe the next child or loved one that he hurt will be yours. What then? Will you then say that he is an out of control Trooper that must be stopped? If we wait any longer, it will result in more innocent civilians being hurt. We are asking that those in power hear our pleas.

To the media, government officials, people in power and others, you have the power to bring this story of corruption for all to hear and say no more to violence against innocent civilians. Hopefully, those who can make a difference will step up to the plate and make this sad story rest in peace.
Thank you,
Michael E. and friends
Cc – Post Gazette, Tribune Review, WPXI, KDKA, Tom Corbett, Mary Beth Buchanan, Governor Edward Rendell, Senator Arlen Specter, Ms. Elizabeth Pettinger, Mr. Stephen Zappala

There are many of us that will not rest till Michael Ellerby has justice. We will continue to write till someone hears our pleas. In time, someone will have the courage to stop this form of governmental corruption.

[hermesten]

"No Officer is above the Law"

This statement is clearly false, as demonstrated by your own recitation of the facts about Nassan. There is some very limited Federal prosecution of criminal cops, but for the most part cops can behave criminally with impunity, especially when their behavior is the the context of their "enforcement" duties. In other words, a cop MIGHT be prosecuted for something like selling drugs, or killing his wife, but cops are virtually never punished for abusing their power, even when it includes felonious acts like assault, murder, perjury, and filing false arrest affidavits.

Cops like Nassan represent the true face of law enforcement. Though the number that abuse power to such extremes may be few, their behavior is embraced and supported by all cops, just as the facts you recite demonstrate in the case of Nassan. Just try to imagine another profession with the ethics of "law enforcement." Imagine, for instance, a company of accountants covering up the crimes, malfeasance, and incompetence of a fellow accountant. Something like, Jake always fucks up the books and cheats his clients, but as accountants, we must stand together and lie to cover up his errors. Then imagine all the rest of the accountants going to Jake's embezzlement trial to show their support and intimidate witnesses. Then try to imagine this happening without them all going to prison. The only way you can make the imagination work for that is to imagine them all as cops.