Santa Rosa man files civil rights suit against city

A Santa Rosa man has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit saying he was beaten by police after being stopped near Stony Point Road last year for “driving while black.”

Bernard Norton Jr., 47, alleges racial profiling and excessive force in the incident that he said left him battered and a nervous wreck.

“Everywhere I go, when I see the police, I literally have an anxiety attack,” Norton said. “I am in fear of my life. My other black friends in Santa Rosa feel the same way.”

The ex-convict said he was driving home from a Mexican restaurant with his girlfriend the afternoon of Jan. 18, 2014, when he made eye contact with a Santa Rosa police officer driving in the opposite direction.

The officer turned around and followed Norton’s 1991 Chevy Suburban for several blocks, passing him when Norton pulled to the side of the road in anticipation of a traffic stop. Norton continued north on Stony Point, turning onto Jennings Avenue. He looked in his rearview mirror and saw the same patrol car coming up behind him, he said.

He pulled over again, but this time got out of his car and asked the officer, “Why are you harassing me?” the lawsuit said.

The officer responded by pulling his gun, handcuffing him and throwing him to the ground, causing him to hit his head, the suit said. Norton was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries before he was charged.

Another officer pinned his feet to his back before Norton was dragged to a patrol car, he said.

No video was made of the arrest but one of the officers made an audio recording, which was posted on YouTube. It was unclear why the officer made the recording.

Norton was charged with delaying an officer. The case went to trial and ended in a hung jury.

In his federal lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Norton is seeking $700,000 to cover back and head injuries as well as punitive damages.

The suit names the city and the Police Department, claiming inadequate training in the use of force and to prevent racial profiling.

Assistant City Attorney John Fritsch denied the allegations Monday. He said the city would be filing a written response to Norton’s claims.

Acting Police Chief Hank Schreeder could not be reached Monday or Tuesday for comment.

Meanwhile, Norton, who says he’s been pulled over at least six times and never received a ticket, said officers show a “deliberate indifference” to constitutional rights.

He said he served prison time from 2004 to 2007 for drug offenses but was not on parole at the time and didn’t break traffic laws.

“The bottom line is, they are racially profiling me,” Norton said.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.