On September 24th in Hammond, Indiana couple Lisa Mahone and Jamal Jones were pulled over for a routine traffic stop in a car with Mahone’s two children Joseph and Janiya Ivy in the back seat. The family was on their way to see Mahone’s ill mother in the hospital before she passed. Hammond Police Officers Sgt. Charles Turner and Lt. Patrick Vicari allegedly stopped the couple because neither front seat passengers were wearing seat belt restraints. Shortly after being confronted by both officers, Mahone acknowledged her and Jones’ mistake and requested that the officers simply write the citation so they could be on their way to the hospital.

Officers then asked for Jones’ identification, which he did not have due to a previous citation during a traffic stop because he had not paid his car insurance. After telling this to officers, Jones offered to present them with the ticket he received which had his information on it. When officers turned down his offer to look at the ticket, they instructed him to step out of the vehicle. Jones refused to exit the vehicle and Mahone then called 911 to speak to the officers’ supervisors. Jones told the officers he was going to show his form of identification and slipped his hand into his backpack, then both officers drew their firearms and aimed them at Jones. Police then asked both front seat passengers to open the doors and leave the vehicle. At this time, Mahone’s 14 year old son began to film the situation on his cell phone. Both front seat passengers refused and one officer then asked if they both understand that he will open the door for them. Mahone and Jones nod and Officer Vicari walked back over to the passenger side window with an instrument. He asks Mahone one last time if she will open the door, and with no answer Vicari then smashes in the window, uses a stun gun on Jones, opens the door and drags him out of the car.

The family is now suing both officers for excessive force, false arrest and imprisonment, assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It has since been revealed that Vicari has been in three other cases of excessive force, and his partnering officer, Officer Turner, has been involved in one. All cases were resolved before trial and neither officers admit any wrongdoing. The Hammond Police Department is standing behind the actions of its officers. This police department is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, an officer was under scrutiny for shooting a dog in the face during a family cookout. The department also stood by this officer’s actions.

FSA Connection Questions

1.  What does the word “citation” mean in context?

2.  What is implied by the word “routine” in its description of the traffic stop?

3.  How was the events of the traffic stop caught on film?

4.  What does the author imply by saying the “department stood by the officer’s actions?”

5.  In how many total cases of excessive force have the two officers been involved?