Photo: Getty Images
A historic settlement has been reached in the case of Richard "Randy" Cox, a Black man who was paralyzed in the back of a police van, vs. the city of New Haven.
On Friday (June 9), New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker announced that all parties involved in the case agreed on a settlement of $45 million to resolve the claims against the city, per The Hill.
“What happened to Randy Cox was unacceptable,” Elicker said. “When an individual enters police custody, there is an obligation to treat them with dignity and respect and in a manner that ensures their safety and well-being. That did not happen with Randy: he entered policy custody being able to walk, and he left police custody paralyzed with his life and his health forever altered.”
Cox was being transported to a New Haven police station on a weapons charge on June 19, 2022, when an officer driving the van braked hard to avoid a collision at an intersection, according to police. The impact sent Cox, who was handcuffed, headfirst into the wall of the van.
Following the incident, Cox pleaded for help and told police he couldn't move, yet some of the officers mocked him and accused him of faking his injuries. The officers also dragged Cox by his feet out of the van and put him in a holding cell.
Five officers involved in the incident have pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless endangerment and cruelty. Among the officers, two were fired last week by the New Haven Police Commission.
Cox's attorneys, Ben Crump, Louis Rubano, and R.J. Weber, said the $45 million settlement is the largest in a police misconduct case in U.S. history.
“This historic settlement reflects the commitment of New Haven leadership to fully value Randy Cox’s life and support him through the difficult journey ahead,” the attorneys said in a statement. “As the largest settlement in a police misconduct case in our nation’s history, this settlement sends a message to the country that we know we must be better than this.”
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