The City of Columbus has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Alexandra Davis, who claimed that Columbus police officers used excessive force against her during an arrest in the 2020 George Floyd protests. The settlement was approved by the City Council on Monday night.
Davis, a protest attendee who was not involved in the demonstrations, alleged that she was arrested and subjected to excessive force by officers who were responding to the protests. She claimed that officers used inadequate training and supervision, and that her constitutional rights were violated during the incident.
The lawsuit named several Columbus police officers, including Robert Davis and Rodney Hall, as well as the City of Columbus and former Chief Thomas Quinlan. The defendants had filed a motion for summary judgment, which was granted in part and denied in part.
The incident occurred on June 29, 2020, when Davis and her boyfriend, Austin Williams, witnessed a medical emergency in downtown Columbus and joined the George Floyd protests. Davis was eventually arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, but the charges were later dropped.
In her lawsuit, Davis claimed that she was subjected to excessive force during the arrest, including being grabbed by the neck and dragged into the street. She also alleged that she was not told she was under arrest until officers had already taken her into custody.
The settlement brings an end to a lawsuit that has been ongoing for several years. It is unclear how the incident will be handled in terms of officer discipline or training, but the settlement is likely to be seen as a significant step towards resolving the matter.