Sheffield, Alabama Mar 31, 2024 (Issuewire.com) - The Roderick Van Daniel Law Firm, LLC has filed a lawsuit against the City of Sheffield and officers with the Sheffield Police Department claims officers used excessive force tasing a Florence doctor. https://www.rvdcivilrightsattorney.com/firm/attorney/
Attorney Roderick Van Daniel specializes in civil rights lawsuits and has four other clients with cases currently against the City of Sheffield.
His client, Dr. Alexander Sayas (a military veteran - age 57) is the newest case filed after Van Daniel claimed his client was tased dozens of times and had burns from the incident.
Van Daniel said it all started when Sayas went out looking for his wife’s missing phone. He said the couple left it at a restaurant but when Sayas tried to digitally ping it, it was somewhere else.
Sayas went to the location and found a police car there. He went to the police car for help but no one was in it.
When the police officer came back he told Sayas to step away from the car, the lawsuit said Sayas moved toward him to explain what happened.
Van Daniel said the officer then used force to move him. The lawsuit states Sayas was handcuffed but eventually let go after the officer ran his information.
Van Daniel said after five lawsuits, the city needs to do better.
“It’s not justice,” Van Daniel said. “We can’t continue to allow the innocent to be attacked and assaulted by the people who are supposed to protect and serve them.”
Sayas also has another attorney who is local to the Shoals. Tony Hughes represented Sayas and then helped him find a lawyer who specializes in civil lawsuits.
“And through our case, the allegations that have came out against the city of Sheffield and some of the officers involved we investigated those allegations and determined there’s probably some merit to those,” Hughes explained.
However, Hughes said he cannot discuss much about the case at this moment.
“We’re to the point where we’re still gathering some information,” Hughes said. “We’ve gathered enough to go ahead and file a complaint and everything. But we’re not going to talk about a pending case that is in federal court right now. We’ll just let it run its way through the system.”
Mayor Steve Stanley said he cannot comment while the lawsuit is ongoing. However, he did state that he wanted to point out the lawsuit only shows one side of the story.
The Sheffield Chief of Police Ricky Terry said he also cannot comment.
This man was innocent,” said Van Daniel. “A citizen cannot ask for help from the police without being assaulted, tased; then made to feel as though they did something wrong by the Sheffield Police Department. Enough is Enough!!! This culture of police misconduct has to change. The citizens are afraid to leave their homes even a prestigious doctor (Dr. Alexander Sayas) in the community is not safe from these salvages who are supposed to protect and serve the community. We're not just fighting for civil rights; we are fighting for our very human rights. Our right to be a (living) human being in a safe community that does not involve police brutality. No, this isn't about bad apples, the whole orchard is rotten. Dr. Sayas did nothing wrong that day. However, the City of Sheffield has not held these officers accountable for assaulting a military veteran that fought for our country to secure our borders and our American freedom for our life and liberties.”
Attorney Roderick Van Daniel stated, “We will let the constitutional of the United States of America hold these officers accountable for their action of police misconduct and fight for justice for Dr. Alexander Sayas plus for all of the citizens (Marvin Long, Demarcus Key, Dennoriss Richardson, and Demetric Payne) who have been impacted by this egregious culture of broken policy and procedures. Dr. Alexander Sayas was treated like a criminal on October 9, 2023. Approaching this Easter Weekend, we filed a $15,000,000 lawsuit against the City of Sheffield not just for Dr. Sayas but for the egregious culture of police corruption towards the citizens in the Sheffield community. These salvage officers need to be held accountable for their actions. This may be your family member next. It’s time for a change as we move forward in the new year of 2024.”
This egregious culture of police misconduct is supported by Mayor Steve Stanley from Sheffield, Alabama. He stated during the Marvin Long arrest that “From what we could tell, the dog never broke the skin of the subject,” Mayor Steve Stanley told local outlets, according to the lawsuit. “The actions by our officers certainly got Mr. Long to stop and come into compliance with the arrest attempt.”
The lawsuit names four officers and the chief with the Sheffield Police Department (SPD). The officers include Chief Ricky Terry, Kaegan Cook, William Vasquez, Gavin Putnam, and Mason Herston. Additionally, the City of Sheffield is named as a defendant in this lawsuit.
Van Daniel stated “hopefully filing this historic $15,000,000 dollar lawsuit will help the leadership of the City of Sheffield will help them review the policy and procedures to help change the egregious culture of police misconduct to stop the inhuman treatment of the citizens in the Sheffield area. The time for change is now. This has to stop. This was not only an emotional time for Dr. Sayas but also for his wife and family members who have to live with him, being brutally attacked. Enough with the reckless disregard to the citizens in the Sheffield community. Enough with the cover ups. Enough with this form of injustice. The time is now for this community to stand up and fight for their rights to let the Constitution be the voice to hold these police officers accountable; if their local leaders of their community will not.”
“It is very clear and known in this community that these officers think that they are above the law,” said Van Daniel. vandaniel@rvdcivilrightsattorney.com
Media Contact
The Roderick Van Daniel Law Firm LLC vandaniel@rvdcivilrightsattorney.com 2059198454 http://www.rvdcivilrightsattorney.com