Muhammad v. Garrett

66 F. Supp. 3d 1287, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171744, 2014 WL 7004752
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedDecember 11, 2014
DocketCase No. 1:12-cv-01199-JLT
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 66 F. Supp. 3d 1287 (Muhammad v. Garrett) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Muhammad v. Garrett, 66 F. Supp. 3d 1287, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171744, 2014 WL 7004752 (E.D. Cal. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

JENNIFER L. THURSTON, United States Magistrate Judge.

In this action, Plaintiff claims he suffered excessive force during an arrest. In the current motion, Defendants argue they are entitled to a grant of summary judgment because Plaintiffs entire complaint is barred. (Doc. 95) The evidence demonstrates that Plaintiff has suffered convictions of crimes that, if he was successful in the current action, would be undermined. Because he is not permitted to pursue this action without first demonstrating the criminal convictions have been set aside through direct attack, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, the motion is GRANTED.

I. Factual Background

On February 26, 2012, Kareem Muhammad suffered a broken arm during a scuffle with police officers. As a result of the incident, he was charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance in violation of California’s Health & Safety section 11550(A), resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer in the performance of his duties in violation of Penal Code section 148(A) and assault on a peace officer in violation of Penal Code section 241(c). (Doc. 95-3 at 2 (Fact 1); Doc. 95-3 at 6; (Fact 7)).

During his criminal trial, Kareem Muhammad testified. (Doc. 95-3 at 5-6) (Fact 61) He told the jury he was con[1290]*1290fronted by people at a motel room he was renting. Id. Because he felt threatened by the people, he left the room. Id. Sometime later, he went to the hospital because he thought someone had tampered with his drink. Id. Nevertheless, he léffc the hospital in search of a taxi near an AM/PM convenience store. Id. As he walked near the store, he heard a shout and tripped on a curb. Id. As he lay on the concrete, a police officer approached and told him to continue to lie on the ground. Id. As he did so, the officer walked up and struck him on the arm and broke his bone. Id. Then officers dragged him toward the ambulance and scraped his chin. Id. Plaintiff denied ever having used methamphetamine or cocaine. Id.

The officers involved in the incident testified as well. Officer Garrett testified that he saw Plaintiff leaving the service station and that he appeared unsteady, was “high-stepping,” and appeared to be hallucinating. (Doc. 95-3 at 2 (Fact 2)) Officer Garrett observed that Plaintiffs muscles were rigid. Id.

Garrett testified that he approached Plaintiff and asked him to sit down but Plaintiff ignored him and continued walking. (Doc. 95-3 at 2 (Fact 2)) Garrett followed behind and ordered Plaintiff to sit down several times and, ultimately, Plaintiff sat. Id. During this time, Plaintiff appeared “fidgety” and was unable to sit still. Id. Garrett determined that Plaintiff was under the influence of drugs and decided to arrest him and attempted to place him in handcuffs. Id. When Garrett reached for Plaintiffs hands, Plaintiff tried to stand. Id. Garrett tried to prevent Plaintiff from standing by ordering him to remain seated, by grabbing his wrist and by pushing down on his shoulder. Id. Nevertheless, Plaintiff stood up, broke free and began running. Id. Garrett ran after Plaintiff and yelled orders for him to stop. Id.

Given Garrett’s call for assistance, Officers Messick and Gavin arrived. (Doc. 95-3 at 3-5 (Facts 2-4)) Messick testified that he and Gavin arrived at the scene together. (Doc. 95-3 at 3^4-(Fact 3)) Messick saw Plaintiff running directly at him and Gavin. Id. Messick testified that Gavin got out of the patrol car and ordered Plaintiff to stop but he did not. Id. Mes-sick gave chase and also ordered Plaintiff to stop but he did not. Id. Eventually, Messick reached Plaintiff and grabbed at his shoulders to try to stop him. Id. In response, Plaintiff turned toward him and swung a fist at Messick’s face. Id. Mes-sick dodged the blow and shoved Plaintiff. Id. This allowed Messick to get on Plaintiffs back and use his body weight to force Plaintiff to the ground. Id. Despite this, Plaintiff pushed up — in a push-up position — with Messick on his back in an attempt to throw Messick off. Id.

By this time, Gavin reached Messick and he too placed his body weight onto Plaintiffs back. (Doc. 95-3 at 3-4 (Fact 3)) Garrett then reached the group and used his body weight to try to stop Plaintiff from kicking. Id. Nevertheless, despite all three officers on Plaintiffs back, he contin[1291]*1291ued to flail and was able to push up and off the ground. Id. (Doc. 95-3 at 5 (Fact 4)) Gavin punched Plaintiff in the rib cage in an effort to try to obtain control over Plaintiffs arm. Id. Given the continued level of resistance, Messick struck Plaintiff twice on the arm with his baton. (Doc. 95-3 at 3-4 (Fact 3)) Despite this, Plaintiff continued struggling and during which the officers heard a snapping sound which, it appears, was the sound of Plaintiffs arm bone breaking. (Doc. 95-3 at 3-5 (Facts 2^4)) Still, Plaintiff continued to use the arm in an attempt to break free. Id. Eventually, the officers were able to place Plaintiff in handcuffs. Id.

At the trial, a criminologist testified that Plaintiffs blood, taken at the time of the incident and which was tested at the lab, was positive for methamphetamine at one of the highest levels he had seen. (Doc. 95-3 at 5 (Fact 5)).

As to the Penal Code 148(A) charge, the court instructed the jury,

The defendant is charged in count 2 with resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer in the performance or attempted performance of his duties in violation of Penal Code section 148(A).
To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime the People must prove that number one, Christopher Messick, Chad Garret, and Keegan Gavin were peace officers lawfully performing or attempting to perform their duties as a peace officer.
Number two, the defendant willfully resisted, obstructed, or delayed Christopher Messick, Chad Garrett, and/or Keegan Gavin or in the performance or attempted performance of those duties.
And number three, when the defendant acted, he knew or reasonably should have known that Christopher Messick, Chad Garrett, and Keegan Gavin were peace officers performing or attempting to perform their duties.
Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose. It is not required that he or she intend to break the law, hurt someone else or gain an advantage. A person who is employed as a police officer by the Bakersfield Police Department is a peace officer.
The People allege that the defendant resisted, obstructed, or delayed Christopher Messick, Chad Garrett or Keegan Gavin by doing the following:
Failing to follow the instructions of the officers;
Running away from the officers;
Physically struggling when the officers attempted to handcuff the defendant; and
Attempting to run after being unhand-cuffed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Duarte v. Stockton City
E.D. California, 2021
Alexander v. Diaz
S.D. California, 2020
(PC) Singanonh v. Fine
E.D. California, 2020

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
66 F. Supp. 3d 1287, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171744, 2014 WL 7004752, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/muhammad-v-garrett-caed-2014.