Family of Mack "Jody" Woodfox III to get $650,000 for murder by OPD Officer Hector Jimenez

by stop police murders!

Wed, Jul 8, 2009 12:41PM

City of Oakland settles with family of slain man
AP, 07/08/2009 12:11:05 PM PDT

OAKLAND, Calif.—The city of Oakland has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the family of an unarmed man fatally shot by a police officer.

At a closed meeting Tuesday, City Council members passed the city attorney's recommendation to settle with the family of Mack "Jody" Woodfox III for $650,000.

Former Oakland Police Officer Hector Jimenez shot 27-year-old Woodfox in the back on July 25, 2008, as he ran from his car after being pulled over for suspicion of drunken driving.

Jimenez was fired last month for violating the police department's use-of-force policies. His attorney, Justin Buffington, says Woodfox was running toward another officer and Jimenez believed he was acting reasonably to prevent harm to a fellow police officer.

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§$1.5 million for Pat Gonzales murder of Jody Woodfox

by fire & prosecute killer cops!!

Thu, Sep 24, 2009 5:39PM

The City Council on Tuesday night approved a $1.5 million settlement with the family of a 20-year-old man shot and killed by police two years ago.

Gary King Jr. was fatally shot by police Sgt. Pat Gonzales during an altercation Sept. 20, 2007. The city maintained Gonzales believed King had been reaching for a gun, but the killing prompted public outcry from people who believed King was wrongfully killed. The family sued in 2008.

"The amount of the settlement reflects an acknowledgment of the strengths of the family's case against the officer and the gravity of their loss," said Michael Haddad, an attorney for King's family. "Hopefully this will allow the family to begin to have some closure."

Haddad said at least 10 witnesses disputed Gonzales' version of the event. But Bill Simmons, a deputy city attorney, said there were also witnesses who corroborated what Gonzales said — and that the city stood by the officer's assertion that King seemed to be reaching for a gun.

Nonetheless, Simmons said there was a risk to both sides if the case went to a jury and that it made sense to settle.

For more information: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/09/2...

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