Spokane Public Schools pays $275k to family of Black teen pinned down by resource officer
In January 2019, Ferris High School resource officer Shawn Audie pinned a Black student by his neck, causing the student to reportedly say "I can't breathe."
It sparked outrage among other students and community members, even before the Inlander uncovered how Audie had been accused repeatedly of using excessive force in his previous job as a Spokane County sheriff's deputy, including one incident in which a man lost consciousness and died when Audie applied a neck restraint. Spokane Public Schools was unaware of the previous allegations before hiring Audie.
Now, records recently obtained by the Inlander show that Spokane Public Schools in November gave the Ferris student's family $275,000 to settle a case accusing Audie of excessive force and accusing the school district of negligent hiring practices.
Krista Elliott, the attorney for the family, says the family is happy with the settlement. She shared a statement from the family in which they say Audie never should have been able to work with children.
Read more: https://www.inlander.com/spokane/spokane-public-schools-pays-275k-to-family-of-black-teen-pinned-down-by-resource-officer/Content?oid=22033755
(Spokane Inlander)
