The county has reached a $7.5 million settlement in a civil grievance filed by the household of Kurt Andras Reinhold, a homeless Black man shot and killed in 2020 by an Orange County Sheriff’s Division deputy in San Clemente.
The household filed the wrongful-death lawsuit following Reinhold’s demise on Sept. 23, 2020, when a confrontation escalated between him and two sheriff’s deputies who have been with the division’s homeless outreach staff after Reinhold had been stopped on suspicion of jaywalking. The taking pictures occurred after Reinhold reached for one of many deputy’s weapons throughout a scuffle, based on officers with the Sheriff’s Division.
The Orange County District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced in February 2022 that it had decided the deputy was justified within the taking pictures, clearing him of felony wrongdoing. Prosecutors mentioned their investigation indicated Reinhold had not jaywalked, however had violated a car code by crossing throughout a crimson hand sign, giving deputies justification for approaching him.
The household alleged in its civil lawsuit the homeless outreach staff was “ill-equipped to cope with mentally unwell topics and disproportionately targets and detains individuals of shade in Orange County” and argued Reinhold’s arms have been flailing and “by the way” close to the weapon.
The OC Board of Supervisors permitted the settlement on Tuesday, Might 9, throughout a closed session assembly.
“We determined to settle as a result of it is a very tragic case and it was a possibility that each side agreed could be a good quantity to place an finish to the struggle over this actually tragic state of affairs,” board Chairman Don Wagner mentioned. “There's merely no good to return out of this circumstance. We’re very hopeful that this provides the household some closure and we by no means see something as horrible as this once more.”
The OC Sheriff’s Division declined to remark.
The taking pictures sparked demonstrations, with protesters asking for the firing and arrest of the 2 deputies concerned.
“That is vindication for the Reinhold household. There must be accountability when deputies use extreme pressure and it is a step in that path,” John Taylor, legal professional for the Reinhold household, mentioned. “The household hopes that the pointless killing of Kurt can influence interplay between homeless outreach deputies and the folks that they’re purported to serve.”
Workers Author Sean Emery contributed to this story.