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Family Names 33 Officers in Wrongful Death Suit

28 Comments

Steve O’Connell, a spokesman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the investigation into Howe’s death was continuing.

A spokesman for state police did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, claims that Howe was beaten after traveling to North Andover from his home in Worcester with two friends to buy a speedboat.

According to the lawsuit, Howe, a passenger in the pickup truck, was smoking a marijuana cigarette when the three men approached the checkpoint. Seeing the police, Howe tried to put out his cigarette and fasten his seatbelt.

The suit claims that a state trooper approached the front passenger side of the truck, where Howe was sitting, and ordered Howe and the driver out of the truck. Howe held both hands up and tried to explain that the cigarette was all he had in his hands, according to the suit.

The suit claims that the trooper then “forcefully removed Kenneth from the truck and screamed, ‘He assaulted me!’”

“At that point, between approximately 10 and 20 law enforcement officers swarmed on Kenneth,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit cites a series of 43 photographs taken by a photographer from The Eagle-Tribune newspaper allegedly showing Howe face-down on the ground surrounded by police officers, some of whom are on top of him and restraining him.

The lawsuit says Howe was dragged to a state police cruiser and taken to state police barracks. He later was taken to Lawrence General Hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Nov. 26.

The lawsuit alleges that police used excessive force and were slow to provide medical services.

King called on the U.S. attorney’s office to investigate Howe’s death, saying it is “nothing short of absurd” for state police within the state prosecutor’s office to investigate the actions of other state police.

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DALLASCRANE

over 3 years ago

19386 Comments

“It’s a tragedy for his family and friends. Everybody regrets that it happened, but no police officer murdered him or tried to. It was a struggle and he passed away. Blame everyone and maybe you can walk away with some $money.
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

A subject with a heart condition, and intoxicated, got in a fight with officers. The subject then died. Oh yeah this is really the cops fault......NOT. It amazes me that any judge worth a plug nickle would hear this. I feel for the family, but this is not the way to go to try to start the healing. It is just the opposite.
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

A subject with a heart condition, and intoxicated, got in a fight with officers. The subject then died. Oh yeah this is really the cops fault......NOT. It amazes me that any judge worth a plug nickle would hear this. I feel for the family, but this is not the way to go to try to start the healing. It is just the opposite.
Whalewatcher

over 3 years ago

9784 Comments

Because this suit is filed in Mass., one of the most liberal states in the country(my home state, no less), the family might actually get a favorable judgement out of this. Aside from that, 33 cops beat him ?!?!? Just another family looking for a scapegoat because the victim made a bad choice. I am truly sorry the man died, but it was due to his poor decision. I'll give long odds on big money he died from a heart attack due in part to the heart disease he had, and his resisting arrest.
chrissanders

over 3 years ago

5242 Comments

He should not have resisted. Who is to say that he didnt already have some of his injuries before he was even stopped. He could have gotten into a fight before he got stopped. I hate that the man died. Someone seems to always try to find a way to benefit from an unfortunate event.
Gearhart

over 3 years ago

344 Comments

Sorry this guy died, but had he not resisted he probably wouldn't have been struck. And as so many others have said, when you resist arrest, its kind of a procedure for you to get placed on the ground and then in cuffs. That's what happens when you fight with the police, the death was an unfortunate side-effect. But trying to hold a LEO, let alone 33, responsible for the subject's criminal actions is insane, even though they will probably reach a very hefty settlement.
gheil

over 3 years ago

478 Comments

Looks like some one is looking for some deep pockets to pick.
joshua55

over 3 years ago

326 Comments

so they are really going to think that someone was beaten to death and not one of the 33!! officers said anything? Another family looking to make a good buck
FlyingDutchman

over 3 years ago

178 Comments

hmmm, somehow 33 people had custody of him and are now civilly responsible....
PETE114

over 3 years ago

1396 Comments

Typical story. Guy thinks he's above the law. Guy fights with the law. Guy loses. Guy (or idiot's family) sues everyone because people who were against him/her were wrong. Another frivilous lawsuit. Lawyers win.
Lawful_Blue

over 3 years ago

1184 Comments

Maybe this "grown adult" shouldn't have been smoking marijuana in the first place!!

A waste of time as the family will get NOTHING.
clobster

over 3 years ago

1552 Comments

Whatever. Sue all you want, it doesn't mean it's justified or you'll win.
usa_24

over 3 years ago

4994 Comments

Sounds like this guys wife was looking for a lawsuit. I would like to hear the officers side of the story before I go saying anything else.
Scurge

over 3 years ago

1238 Comments

When you resist the police you end up on the ground face down with officers on top of you restraining you.
revCCBeasley

over 3 years ago

2944 Comments

Missing enough information to respond......I am sorry the young man died.