Police Brutality and Misconduct Cases (2010–2019)
Between 2010 and 2019, numerous incidents of police brutality—the use of excessive force by law enforcement—and systemic misconduct were documented globally. These cases range from fatal shootings and custodial deaths to the violent suppression of peaceful protests, highlighting ongoing struggles for accountability and human rights.
These incidents often involve positional asphyxia (death caused by the body's position preventing adequate breathing) or the misuse of non-lethal weaponry, leading to severe injuries or loss of life.
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Key Facts
- Global Reach: Documented abuses occurred across the United States, Egypt, Macedonia, Malaysia, South Africa, China, Venezuela, and France.
- Fatal Outcomes: Many incidents resulted in death due to shootings, beatings, or choking.
- Legal Consequences: Outcomes varied from officers being convicted of manslaughter and murder to cases where officers were cleared of all charges.
- Civil Settlements: Several families received multi-million dollar settlements, including $6.5 million for Douglas Zerby and $5.9 million for Eric Garner.
- Protest Suppression: Security forces in Venezuela, Malaysia, and France used lethal force or specialized weaponry (like blast balls) against demonstrators.
Detailed Case Analysis by Region
United States
The U.S. saw a high volume of reported misconduct, often involving the shooting of unarmed individuals or excessive force during arrests.
- Fatal Shootings: Officers killed unarmed individuals in various circumstances, such as John T. Williams (a deaf woodcarver), Danny Rodriguez (holding a bicycle), and Douglas Zerby (holding a garden hose nozzle). Other notable cases include the deaths of Patricia Cook, John Geer, Jack Jacquez, and Akai Gurley.
- Custodial and Arrest Violence: Michael Burris died of positional asphyxia after being shackled face-down. Alecia Thomas died after being punched and kicked during an arrest. Eric Garner was choked to death by an officer during a suspected tax-stamp violation, sparking national outrage.
- Non-Lethal Weaponry and Assault: 17-year-old Bryce Masters suffered brain injuries after being tasered for 23 seconds. Dr. David Dao was violently assaulted and dragged off a plane by aviation officers at O'Hare Airport.
- Contested Cases: In the case of Terence Crutcher, an officer was found not guilty of manslaughter despite Crutcher being unarmed.
International Incidents
Beyond the U.S., state security forces were implicated in severe human rights violations.
- Africa: In South Africa, the Marikana Massacre marked one of the deadliest uses of force against civilians since the apartheid era. Additionally, Mido Macia was killed after being dragged by a police vehicle.
- Asia: In Egypt, Khaled Mohamed Saeed was beaten to death in custody. In China, Deng Zhengjia was beaten to death with a scale. In Malaysia, the UN criticized the use of force against Bersih 2.0 rally protestors.
- Europe: In Macedonia, Martin Neškovski was beaten to death by a special police unit member. In France, "yellow vest" protestors suffered permanent injuries, including loss of eyes and hands, due to police blast balls.
- South America: Venezuela experienced multiple fatalities during protests, including Bassil Da Costa, Geraldine Moreno, Juan Pablo Pernalete, and Neomar Lander, often involving live ammunition or tear gas canisters.
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Summary of Notable Incidents
| Year | Individual/Group | Location | Outcome/Cause | Legal Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Douglas Zerby | USA (CA) | Shot 12 times (hose mistaken for gun) | $6.5 million settlement |
| 2011 | Martin Neškovski | Macedonia | Beaten to death | Officer admitted murder |
| 2012 | Marikana Miners | South Africa | Massacre/Lethal force | Mass casualties |
| 2014 | Eric Garner | USA (NY) | Choked to death | $5.9 million settlement; officer fired |
| 2017 | Dr. David Dao | USA (IL) | Violent assault/dragged off plane | Two officers fired |
| 2018 | Yellow Vests | France | Blast balls/Excessive force | Severe neurological/physical injuries |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is positional asphyxia in the context of police misconduct?
Positional asphyxia occurs when a person's body position prevents them from breathing adequately. In the case of Michael Burris, this occurred after he was handcuffed and shackled face-down on a stretcher.
What were the consequences for the officer who killed Eric Garner?
Officer Daniel Pantaleo was fired from the NYPD and stripped of his pension in 2019, more than five years after the incident. Additionally, the City of New York paid a $5.9 million settlement to Garner's family.
How did the "yellow vest" protests in France end?
The protests eventually stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though they resumed after health restrictions were lifted. Amnesty International reported significant brutality during these protests, including injuries caused by blast balls.
Which case involved the mistake of a garden hose for a weapon?
In 2010, Douglas Zerby was shot twelve times by Long Beach, California police officers who claimed they mistook his garden hose nozzle for a handgun.
What happened during the Marikana Massacre?
The Marikana Massacre occurred during a wildcat miners' strike in South Africa and represented the most lethal use of force by security forces against civilians since the Sharpeville massacre of the apartheid era.