A woman whose use of one arm is limited by a longtime handicap is suing the city of Los Angeles, alleging she was beaten by several police officers inside her home, handcuffed and arrested because of her race, gender and disability.
Zennea Foster, who is black, is seeking unspecified damages, alleging civil rights violations, assault and battery and negligence.
Rob Wilcox of the City Attorney’s Office said lawyers there had not yet seen the complaint, but will review it and respond at the appropriate time.
The suit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court states that Foster’s left arm is dysfunctional because of Erb’s palsy, which she suffers due to complications at birth.
About 11:10 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2015, Foster was at the home speaking on a cell phone when Officer Andre Burton and others punched, kicked and battered her about the face and body, the suit alleges.
“Ms. Foster did nothing to justify this use of serious force against her,” the suit states. “She was unarmed and merely entering her home while talking on the telephone when the police officers attacked her.”
Images of Foster after the alleged beating were posted on YouTube in March.
“I just never thought that this would happen to me,” Foster says on the video.
— Wire reports