The family of Otis French, Jr. has been asking for answers about his death since the 32-year-old was killed during a traffic stop nearly two years ago.
On August 20, 2022, French was pulled over and got into an altercation with a Bay Minette Police officer. According to a federal lawsuit, French was shot five times after the officer told him, “I’m going to kill you.”
The Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit investigated and cleared the officer. The lawsuit alleges a possible conflict of interest because Bay Minette Police Chief Al Tolbert is the unit's chairman. However, the unit is set up so that any member of an agency being investigated is withdrawn from that investigation.
The Attorney General’s Office also investigated and did not find enough evidence to warrant charges.
However, French’s family wants a jury trial in federal court for civil rights violations, violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, violations of the Rehabilitation Act, wrongful death and negligent hiring.
"A traffic stop should never end in a life lost. We must address the systemic issues that disproportionately affect Black individuals and people of color within law enforcement. We stand with Otis’s family and the Bay Minette community in their fight for justice and demand transparency and accountability," stated attorneys with the May Jung Law Firm, which represents the French family.
They say French was pulled over for no reason, although he was issued a citation for a tail-light. After asking French to exit the vehicle, the officer searched his car and attempted to place him in handcuffs. French struggled with the officer and was stunned with a Taser and then shot.
The video of the incident has not been released, but attorneys and the family could view it. However, officers with the Major Crimes Unit told the family there was a malfunction with the body camera in the middle of the struggle, the lawsuit states.
French, who suffered from bipolar disorder, had a history of attempting to elude police. He was arrested twice, in 2014 and 2016, for attempting to elude. In 2016, he was also charged with resisting arrest after officers said he used force to try and get away.
The lawsuit states the officer knew of the suspect’s mental illness and failed to de-escalate.
Federal Lawsuit Otis French Jr. by Erica Thomas on Scribd
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