Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-1_06-cv-00691/USCOURTS-alnd-1_06-cv-00691-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
David Dushaun
Defendant
Jacob Freeman
Defendant
Warren Harris
Defendant
Steve Prince
Plaintiff

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA 

EASTERN DIVISION 

STEVE PRINCE 

Plaintiff, 

WARREN HARRIS; DAVID 

DUSHAUN; and JACOB 

FREEMAN 

Defendants. 

MEMORANDUM OPINION 

This cause comes on to be heard on Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment filed on 

March 29,2007. 

The plaintiff has conceded that he does not have Eighth and Fifth Amendment claims, nor 

a 9 1983 deliberate indifference to medical needs claim.' The only purported claim(s) remaining 

for further consideration are: (1) a 14th Amendment substantive due process claim related to the 

alleged failure of the officers dispatched to the scene to protect him from harm by private (not 

law enforcement) parties on private pr~perty;~ and, (2) a claim of false arrest under the 4th 

Amendment. 

Undisputed Facts 

The plaintiff was involved in an altercation (apparently a continuing feud) with his Allen 

neighbors. After a called in report of the altercation, police officers Warren Harris, David 

'The delay in being taken by ambulance was minimal. See recorded telephone discussion. 

'Apparently the plaintiff has argued that the failure to protect claim is a Fourth Amendment claim rather 

than a Fourteenth Amendment substantive due process claim. The court will assume that it is the latter, if anything. 

FILED

 2007 May-15 AM 11:21

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 1 of 24
DeShon (Deshaun) and Jacob Freeman were dispatched to the scene of the altercation at 

approximately 3.00 p.m. on January 22,2005. 

Plaintiffs Version of the Facts 

See attached affidavits of plaintiff and his wife and David Bundrum, Jr. 

Defendants' Version of the Facts 

See attached Affidavits of defendants Harris, Deshon (Dushaun) and Freeman. 

Discussion 

The plaintiffs claims are (1) substantive due process claim for failure to protect; (2) 

unreasonable seizure (false arrest). 

Failure to Protect 

The required initial analysis is prescribed by Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194 (2001). This 

court must first determine if the alleged conduct violates a constitutional right. There is a 

reasonable argument that if police officers are dispatched to the scene of a reported altercation, 

they have a special relationship and responsibilities, and the persons involved in the altercation 

thus have a special right to be protected. Such officers are called for, inter alia, the specific 

purpose of protection. This argument, however, has been clearly foreclosed by DeShaney v. 

Winnebago County Dep't of Special Services, et al, 489 U.S. 189 (1989). 

The Court stated: 

The [Due Process] Clause is phrased as a limitation on the 

State's power to act, not as a guarantee of certain minimal levels of 

safety and security. It forbids the State itself to deprive individuals 

of life, liberty, or property without 'due process of law,' but its 

language cannot fairly be extended to impose an affirmative 

obligation on the State to ensure that those interests do not come to 

harm through other means. Nor does history support such an 

expansive reading of the constitutional text. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 2 of 24
The Court Wher stated: 

... As a general matter, then, we conclude that a State's failure 

to protect an individual against private violence simply does not 

constitute a violation of the Due Process Clause. 

Id. at 197. 

. . . . 

Citing earlier cases, the Court stated: 

But these cases afford petitioners no help. Taken together, they 

stand only for the proposition that when the State takes a person into 

its custody and holds him there against his will, the Constitution 

imposes upon it a corresponding duty to assume some responsibility 

to his safety and general well-being. 

Id. at 199-200. 

The Court further stated: 

In the substantive due process analysis, it is the State's 

affirmative act of restraining the individual's freedom to act on his 

own behalf--through incarceration, institutionalization, or other 

similar restraint of personal liberty--which is the "deprivation of 

liberty" triggering the protections of the Due Process Clause, not its 

failure to act to protect his liberty interest against harms inflicted by 

other means. 

Id. at 200. 

The Court added: 

Judges and lawyers, like other humans, are moved by natural 

sympathy in a case like this to find a way for Joshua and his mother 

to receive adequate compensation for the grievous harm inflicted 

upon them. But before yielding to that impulse, it is well to 

remember once again that the harm was inflicted not by the State of 

Wisconsin, but by Joshua's father. The most that can be said of the 

state functionaries in this case is that they stood by and did nothing 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 3 of 24
when suspicious circumstances dictated a more active role for them. 

Id. at 202-203. 

The Court further stated: 

The people of Wisconsin may well prefer a system of liability 

which would place upon the State and its officials the responsibility 

for failure to act in situations such as the present one. They may 

create such a system, if they do not have it already, by changing the 

tort law of the State in accordance with the regular lawmaking 

process. But they should not have it thrust upon them by this Court's 

' expansion of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

Id, at 203 .3 

In light of DeShaney, this court cannot hold that the alleged failure to protect violated a 

Constitutional right under the Fourteenth ~mendment.~ See also Collins v. City of Harker Heights, 

503 U.S. 1 15 (1992) and White v. Lemacks, 183 F.3d 1253, 1257-1259 (1 lth Cir. 1999).' See also 

Williams v. City of Montgomery, 2 1 F. Supp. 2d 1360 (M.D. Ala. 1 9B), aff d without opinion, 200 

F.3d 82 1 (1 1 th Circ. 1999). Compare also Breen v. Texas A & M Univ., F.3d (5th Cir. 

This court will, in the alternative, discuss qualified irnm~nity.~ 

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit addressed the issue of qualified 

%ee other quotes in DeShaney. 

4The court understands that plaintiff is a white male. There has been no suggestion that the plaintiff is in a 

"disfavored minority." See DeShaney, 489 U.S. at 197 n.. 3. 

The latter case perhaps overruling a portion of Cornelius v. Town of Highland Lake, 880 F.2d 348 (1 lth 

Cir. 1989). 

This discussion, of course, has no application unless an appellate court determines that there has been 

sufficient evidence of Constitutional violation. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 4 of 24
immunity in Evans v. Stephens, 407 F.3d 1272, 1283 (1 lth Cir. 2005) (en banc). There the court 

stated: 

Qualified immunity, however, does not shield Stephens from 

Plaintiffs' separate claim that the manner of the strip search violated 

their rights under the Fourth Amendment. No preexisting case law 

established this violation or made it obviously clear. 

Every objectively reasonable officer would have known that, 

when conducting a strip search, it is unreasonable to do so in the 

manner demonstrated by the sum of the facts alleged by Plaintiffs. 

The totality of the facts alleged here made this violation-on the date 

of the search-clear fiom the terms of the Constitution itself: No 

objectively reasonable policeman could have believed that the 

degrading and forceful manner of this strip search (especially in the 

light of the complete lack of circumstances that might have called for 

immediate action to conduct a search without the time for cool and 

calm thought about how to proceed) was "reasonable" in the 

constitutional sense. 

See also Hope v. Pelzer, 536 U.S. 730 (2002) and Priester v. City ofRiviera Beach, 208 F.3d 919, 

926 (1 1 th Cir. 2000). 

If there were a Constitutional violation, this court would hold that the alleged conduct of the 

defendants with regard to protection is shocking to the conscience and ~bitrary.~ However, after 

considering DeShaney and other cited cases, this court cannot determine that the law was clearly 

established on or about January 2005 that police officers have a Constitutional duty to protect private 

citizens against the violence of other private citizens. For a general discussion see Licia A. Esposito 

Eaton, Annotation, Liability of Municipality or Other Governmental Unit for Failure to Provide 

Police Protection for a Crime, 90 A.L.R. 5th 273 (2007). This discussion further suggests that the 

'This court does not suggest that plaintiff's allegations appear to be credible. 

5 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 5 of 24
law is not clearly established. For a recent Eleventh Circuit case discussing qualified immunity, see 

McClish v. Nugent, F.3d (1 lth Cir. 2007). 

Unlahl Arrest 

It is unquestionable that the Fourth Amendment prohibits an arrest without probable 

cause. The first Saucier step is satisfied. On the other hand, Officer Freeman had a reasonable 

basis for restraining the plaintiff. There had been an ongoing altercation. Freeman certainly had 

a reasonable basis for at least temporarily restraining the plaintiff. It was likely wise to separate 

and temporarily restrain the combatants. In any event, a reasonable police officer could think so. 

According to the plaintiff, the fighting continued after the policemen arrived. The fact that other 

officers may not have arrested the Allens is immaterial. Freeman is entitled to qualified 

immunity on this claim. 

This the 15" day of May, 2007. 

ROBERT B. PROPST 

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 6 of 24
Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 7 of 24
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 

NORTHERN DlSTEUCT OF ALABAMA, EASTERN DMbltON 

Steve PRINCE 

WmHARRIS 

David DESHON 

Jacob H'RICEMAN 

1 

) Cast No: 1:06-~~491-RBP 

1 

) District Judge Robert 8. Propst 

STATE OF ALABAMA 

COUNTY OF CALHOUN 

1 

! 

Before me, a notary public in and tbr the Cblhoun County, State of Alabama, prmonelly 

appad David DcSboa, who is known to me, snd being by me duly sworn, depcwu. and says: 

Near 3:00 pm, on January 22,2005, I responded to a disturbance call that was ooourring at 

171 0 Upper White's C3ap Road, thc home of the Allcns. The dispntcher relplycd *at there wns a 

My ll&t going on and thctt somcobt bad beem stubbod. 1 was a mpewh fix the second shiR 

When X arrive$, 1 ssw that Scrgamt Wnrretr Hrurfs of the first shift had llrrivcrl rrnd waa betwlcon 

group of people on tho AUon property. OfCr~cs Jacob Freeman of tho scoond shift dvd shortly 

after I did. 

Tho first pup wm tbc Allem, including Cxystal Allm Jonw, Eugcne Allen, Willicun Allen, 

and Mi&d Allen. Thay told ma that 8 tevu hime me onto their propetty and tried to stab Williern 

Allen, who wsa npproxhately 70 yews old. Thery said thnt Mr. Prince had n ldb and a long (approx. 5 R) whwt8pped stZ& Because Sergeant Hads was alnady ddi with tho Atlens, 

OfRcer Fmnm Ond X weat to tolk to the othcr goup, Sbvo and 'JT~mrpro Prime. I haw kn out to 

the PFinca midace on sevd diffmnt occasions mpndns to reports of Mr. Prince being 

involved in domatie vlolunc~ against his wkk and hie ohildrcn. One time, W. Princcts young boys 

told me tbpt Mr. Prinm had hit them witb a 2x4. 

On the date of thc hident in question, Mr. Prince told me that Ule AUons cmmd a yellow 

piece of tape that Javsd na tho property line and that tho A1 lens "bcal: my ass." Based on Wriq with 

cvwy~ng I believed Mr. Prinoe to be the primary qgtwmr, mostly because the fl&t happancd on 

the Allcn ppmty. Howover, no arrests wen d bccauso nothing hnpm in our prcscnce. 1 told 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 8 of 24
thc Allenn and the Princcs thst if they wanted to prwa chp Chat thy should go to Ihc Police 

Department to make their etDtrmcpu and complaints. 

FUR'rHEKrnW SArrH'NOT. 

STATE OF ALABAMA 

corn OF CALHOUN 

1 

1 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 9 of 24
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COUR? FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRlCT OF ALABAMA, JUSTERN DWISION 

Pleintiff 

v. 

WamnHARRIS 

David DUSHAUN 

Jacob Fm 

WARRENSTATE OF ALABAMA 

COW OF CAZHOUN 

1 

1 

# 

18- mc, a notmy public in d for the Calhoun County, Statc of Alabama, pmodly 

rrppeared Wamn Hanis, who is known to me, and baing by me duly swom, dcposcs and says: 

I am employod a8 rr policc sergeant for the City of Jaclrsonville's Poliw Dcpartmcut. Z am 

ovcr thc age of 19 ycora, and I mn wmpctcot to ma)rr? this dfibvit, which is brlsod upon my ptrsad 

lmowlcdgo and Jaoksonvillc Police I)cprkment mods. 

On Jmuary 22,2005, J worked pa tho sergomt dthe filst: shift, which hrn 7:00 

B.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ath shift change (i.a 3:00 pm), I hurid a call ovcr dispatob ht aknifc wt wk 

in props at 1710 White'a Gap Road, which is outaidc thc city limits but within the police 

jwisdictim This residence was owned by the Allens. Steven d Tamara Prince lived next door. 1 

and other J~~hvilla police offiars had ken to th Wce nsidunw many times to investi~b 

domdc violcncc compldnta leveled at Mr. Prince. Bemuse ~nnc of the second am units were 

already accupicd with other matters, I piwtcdtd to the sene to back-up the unit that was dispatched. 

1 got thm just they did. 

While 1 wpa puUing my police: cur to u stop, 1 saw what apparcd to be two ma rollingC 

around on the ground on tho Allon lot ad fdly memh pulb them apart. As I w running 

towar& them, I JPW one of the men, Mt. Prince, bciqg pulled back towards his homo by Ms. Prince. 

Thc other man, Micbac?l Allen, was being pulled in he other direction by his rmnily, which included 

William Wayne Allen, Eugene Allen, and Crystal Allen Jones. In other wo&, by the time that I. 

physically got to the acene of tho Bght,the fight had cndcd aud the pticiponts had dmdy separated 

themselves. 

Oh David Dudhautl and Jacob Pteoman, who wm on the sownd aMft, arrived within 

scoonds after 1. did. A minute or so aftcr Wocn I>usholm cmd Fman arrived, an ambulance that 

had been dl4 to tbe sccno arrived. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 10 of 24
of March, 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 11 of 24
IN Tl33l UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR TRE 

NORTHERN 'DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, EASTERN DIVIS'LON 

1 

) Case No: ~:06.lcuaYl-RBY 

) 

) District Judge bburt B. hpst 

STATe OP ALABAMA 1 

COUNTY OF CAXAOUN > 

Before mc, a notay public in Pnd for the Calhoun County, Stab of Alabmna, permonally 

appd Jacob Pfoemaa, who is known to me, and bcii by me duly sworn, &poscs and says: 

1 am cmploycd os a police officcr for the Cily of ~ucksonville's police Dcpurtmcnt. I am over 

the age of 19 yeprsr, and I mn competeat to nub this dfbdt, whlch ig based upoa my poraonal. 

knowledge and SaclcMmville Police Dspartmcnt words, 

On Januacy 22, ZOOS, 1 nxqmndcd toa hpoteh call ofa fight ifi pcoprogrc~a at 17 10 Wbib's Oep 

Rood, which is ouhdds thc city limits but within the police jurisdiction. Upon my arrival, th fight 

had already ceased, snd !Sage& Warren Hartis, who wns already thm, had separated the 

pwticii into two pups. One of the gmw, Stovcn and Tamera Prlnce, wcra dkiq towards 

Officer David bhm, who got thote immecUntcly before 1 did An nmbulance arrived within a 

minute or so aRer I dvai. 

We asked Mr. Prhc if hb wanted mcdlurl treuhntnt booolwc wc alrcady had m ambulance 

en mute to the scum. OEiccr Dushaua sgccifioally told him tht he needed "to go to the hospitd to 

p chd ow" He told Mr. Prince tM he can tako tht ambulance or go in a private vehicle, but 

going by pdvak vchiolc would bo cheaper. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 12 of 24
k'VRT)[ER AFFIANT Sm NOT. 

STATE OF ALABAMA 

COUNTY OF CALHOUN 

1 

1 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 13 of 24
MRY-11-2087 10:49 From:PROPST 

, Apr. 3, 2007 8: 24AM 

To:97766206 P. 1'2 

No. 6686 P. 2 

IIV THE DISTRICT COURT OP TBE UlWI'EP STATES . .. .. FOR TBE NORTEERN DMI'RICT 

EASTERN DIVISION 

8mw PRINCE, 1 

-m, 1 

1 

v. ) CA8E NO.: 1 :06-cvIO(i91-RBP 

1 

SEIRG- WARRB;NIURR& ) 

OFFICER DAVID DESHON, and ) 

0mCER JACOB FREEMAN, ) 

Defcndmtsr, 1 

"My name is Tamma Hayncs Prince. I am ded to Stave Prince, .the 

plaintiff in the above-atyled oase. I have paaonal knowledge ofthe hct!~ assertad 

1. UOn Jmuapy 22,2005, at appxoyjmntr!ly 2:30 p.m., ny husband was 

involved 3a a physical al~ercation with ~evd individuals, boluding William 

Wayne Allen, Michael Wayne Allen, Crystaf Marie Allen and Elbat Eugme 

2. "Michael Wayne All= was qpiq with my hwbd Zhaa X saw him 

attack my husband. - Mchasl Wayne Allen used an iron pipe to strike my hwbend 

about hia head and legs. The, my husband was continually attiidced by the 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 14 of 24
To : 97766206 P .2/2 

No. 6686 P, 3 

four Allens. 

, 3. "My husband cantwted rrnergonoy adces requasting the police before the 

by the rest of hi9 family. A neighbor called for emergency ssrvicm including 

police md an mbulancc while the fight wss going on. 

Police Department arrived. Sageant Waxren FFarris arrived kt in Ms police car. 

5. Wen Sergtant Hhia arrived, at the scene, he proceeded to gct out of hie 

police car and leaned on the bd of the car. Sergeant Hanis watdaed the attack % 

on my hhd far appro~ly five - to seven minutes. Sergeant Hemis arrived 

in the middle of the fight, Sergeant Harris did not intervcnc and/or break up the 25) 

Wt. Sergeant l%rria wss laughing &ar smiling whilo he watched the fight6. "Whem Ofacer Freeman arrived at the scene,. he proceeded to get out of hls 

vehicle and just stand them (next to his pokx~ car). Oflicer Freaman watched the 

at~k on hwbd hr appximatcly five to scvcn minutes. Officer Freeman 

break up the fight 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 15 of 24
MAY-11-2007 10:50 Frorn:PROPST 12562371783 To : 97766286 P. 1'2 

Apr; 3. 2007 8: 25AM No. 6686 P. 4 

7. ''Whea, Officer DeShon arrived at the scene, he prdd gM out of his 

vehicle and jut atand them (next to his poliae MU). CM3cer DeShan watched the 

attack on my husband for ap;proximately flva to wen minutes. Offioa DcShon 

t 

dved dub18 the middle of the fight, Mwr DeShon did not intervene and/or 

8. thc police arrived, my hueband was fUrtha: injured when one of the 

\ \ 

Wens stabbed htm m the mouth. The Wens contirruously attacked my husband 

while the police ~fficera watched without lending aaaietance, 

9. '9 did not hear any of the police officers say anything while they wWhed 

the figbt. 

10. UMy neighbor, &rl Storey, broke the fight up. 

11. "Once the fight was broken up, I weat to my hwbbnd, got him up to his feet 

and was trying to help him walk to an ambulance that had arrived. The mbdaace 

wag parked on tihe side of thc rood, not in our driveway. The ambulance was on 

the road buse the police cars were blocking tho driveway. On the wry m the 

Frcansn stopped ua Oftlax Prccmm tried to pt ow identification. Frraann 

tried tD get my hugband into hia police 0% tell@ him, "Sit -ou!m notyou're - not hurtn 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 16 of 24
MAY-11-2007 10:50 From:PROPST 12562371783 To : 97766206 P. 2'2 

Apr, ' 3,' 2007 8:25AM No, 6686 P. 5 

12. "Aflrr I gave Officer Reeman my drivat's licsosa, he thrrmnsd to amst . - 

me far @ving h.im Mea information, I gavs Oflicer Fm my ded name, ' 

but my driver's license has my maiden name on i~ 

"Lo&, 'Rince is hurt. I'm taking him to the hospital, 

14. 'The ambulance than took my husbaad to the hospital." 

Pmua~~t to 28 U.S.C,A.b 1746.1 ddme under penalty of parjury that the 

foregoing ia true and cotrcct. n -I 

Executed on this the 2007. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 17 of 24
lN THE DISTRICT COURT OF "IWE 'UNITED STATES 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT 

EASTERN DIVISION 

STEVE PRINCE, 1 

Plain tiff, ) 

1 

V. 1 CASE NO.: 1 :06-CV-0691 -FtBP 

1 

SERGEANT WARREN HARRIS, ) 

OPFICER DAVID DESHm, and 1 

OFFTCER JACOB FREEMAN, ) 

Dcfcndan ts. 1 

,DECLARGTION OF @AVID B-UM. JR. 

"My name is David Bundrum, Jr. I witnessed the incident which gave rise 

to tho above-styled Inwsuit. I have personal knowledge of the facts asserted 

1. "On. January 22,2005, at approximately . . 2:30 p.m., while I was walking 

from Plaintiff Steve Prince's borne (1 7 10 White's Gap Road., Jacksonville, 

Alabama) to Earl Storey's home to go fishing, I witnessed Michael Wayne Allen 

start R physical fight with 

7 

l;hc plaintiff. 

2. 'The #fight lasted about twenty-five m inutcs. The other individuals in.vol.ved 

in the fight included William Wayne Allen, Michael Wayne Allen, Crystal Marie 

Allen., Elbcrt Eugene "Gene" Allen, and Janice Allen. The fight took place 

outside .Plaintiff's home. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 18 of 24
3. "I heard Wayne Allen tell Plaintiff that he was going to kill him. 

. , . 

4. "While the fight was going on, I was approximately ten to fifteen feet away 

5. "During the attack, all three defendants, members of the City of Jacksonville 

Police Department, arrived. Sergeant Warren Harris arrived first in his police car. 

Officer Jacob Freeman and Officer David DeShon arrived shortly after Harris, 

approximately 40-60 seconds %part, each, defendant in his om. police car. 

6, "When Sergeant Harris arrived at the scene, he proceeded to get out of his 

police car and leaned on. the hood of the car. Sergeant Hanis ,watched the attack 

on the plaintiff for apl?roximately ten minutes. Sergeant Hmis mived in the 

. mi.dd1.e of the fight. Sergeant M&.s did not intervene and/or break up the fight. 

Sergeant Harris was laughing and/or smil,i.ng while he watched the fight. I heard 

L 

Sergeant Harris talkiag and laughing to o.R-. :I heard Wanis say to 

Freeman, 'That's what that - prick needs. ' Harris and Freeman were po.i.n~ing their 

fingers at the fight while talking and laughiag. 

7, "When Officer Freeman arrived at the scene, he proceeded to get out of his 

vehicle and just stand there (next to his police car). OIXcer Freeman watched. the - .. 

attack on the plaintiff for approximately 

e 

9- 1 0 minutes. Officer Freeman arrived 

during the middle of the tight. Officer Freeman did not htetlrene and/or break up 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 19 of 24
the fight. 

8. "When Officer DcShon arrived at the scene, he proceeded to get out of his 

vehicle and jug t stmd there (next to his police car). Oficer DeS hon watched th,o 

attack on the plaintiff for approximately 8-9 minutes. Officer DeSh0.n arrived 

during the middle of the fight. Officer DeShon did not intervene andlor break up 

the fight. 

9. "'I saw one of the Allcns hit the plaintiff with some kind ofhandle, perhaps 

from a sledgehammer. I saw the Allens beat the plaintiff over his faco, legs and 

arms. Crystal Marie Allen tried to stab the p.laintiff in the face. She ended up 

cutting her fsthe,r instead. Plainti.ff was later stabbed in thc mouth area during thc 

fight. 

10. "1 saw Earl. Storey, a neighbor of the plaintiff, break the fight up. 

1 1. "A fourth law enforcement officer then showed up &er Earl Storey bad 

stopped the fight. I believe he was a county law en.fo.rcement offlcer ad not fmm 

the City of Jacksonville Poli.ce; Department. When last oEcw arrived, he 

went down to the scene of the fight. This fowth officer asked tho plaintiff if he 

was okay. The plaintiff told him he needed to go to the hospital. 

12. "Once the fight was broken up, I was next to the plaintiff nltnost the entire 

time. On the way to the ambulaaoe, Oficer Freeman tried to put the plaintiff in, 

3 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 20 of 24
I-V 

his ,police car. The plaintiff told Freeman he could not sir: down. His leg: was 

swelled up to approximately the size of a basketball. l'b.e three defendants would 

not put the plaintiff in aa ambulance. Freeman just kept trying to get the plaintiff 

- 

in 11i.s police car. 

13, "Officer Freeman asked the plaintiff's wife for idcritificatio.n.. After Mrs. 

Prince gave Officer Frecxnan her driver's license, he threntencd to arrest her for 

giving .him false information. The name on her driver's license has her 1naid.en 

name, and she had given Officer Freeman her married name. 

14. "The mbulance then took the plaintiff to the hospital," 

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A.$ 1746,I declare under penalty of perjury that the 

foregoing is true and correct. 

Executed on this the 2 9 day of March, 2007. 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 21 of 24
Mar 30 07 01:09p 3e- Clpments 

' Mar. 28, 2337 3: 11 PI4 

STEYE PRINCE, 1 

PlaltrW, ) 

v. 

1 

) CASE NO.: 1:06~~-069l.-IzBP 

) SERGEANY' WARRENHARRIS, ) 

OJ!l?tCER DAVID DESHON, and ) 

OFFICER JACOB FREEMAN, ) 

Mbndants. 1 

'My name is Steve Prince. I .dm the plaintiff in th~ abovwsty3e.d case, .I 

'have personal howledge afthe ficu asserted herein. .- . 

1. "On Januaty 22,2005, at apprOxim&y 2:30 pm., I was involved in a 

dtercaticm took plme at my homa at 171 0 White's Gap Road, Jaaksonville, 

Alabama 

2. '3Michirel Wayne Allen attacked mc first. Miohael Wayne Allen used a 

.c 

weapon, 1 assumed it was wss hn pipe, ebdl struck me on my head aod legs. '< 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 22 of 24
tha wbapon that Michael Wayne Atled used on me. DoShon p 

and threw it into tha bushes and said, 'What weapon?' 

dcked up the weapon 

4. "ARsr ths Bgbt rms broken up, my &e, Tamera Prince, wur.tcyhg to help 

me to an ambulaaco that had arrived. She WEN walking: me toward the atnb3anca 

not towmd my home. Officer Fzwmm grabbed mo by my arm and tried to &ove 

me into his police car. X fkll down, while Freeman was trying to get me into his 

b 

poti~e oax. Freeman attempted to got mb into hid oat a few times, shoving me into 

his ~hf and than 1 would fall oa, the grovel, on the grouad I kept telling Freeman 

that Z was hut and T could not sit jn a seat. Fmm kept telling me, 'Sit down, 

you're not hurt You're ad huk' My wife kept pickine; mc up off the pmd, 

trying to help me. 

S. "After the fiat wes broken up and my wifk was helping me up and to the , 

ambulance, I saw Sergeant Harris still rotanding at his vchicle. 1 also saw that 

don't need to go to tho hospital.' DeShon then sbatcd, ',put Mr. Allem in the 

7. "Officer Fmemm asked who my wifc was. My wifa an8-d th~t she was 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 23 of 24
Mar 30 07 01: 09p Joe Clements a 256 782 1594 

No. 6650 Pa 4 

We hfomation. hQ wKVs &den name, not her matriad name, 3s on her 

8, the ambulance Mva interrcrptcd Officer Freeman, telling him, FP. L 

'We need to go to the hospital. He's [Stew Pdncc] Burt bad.' 

9. - "I new told Officer Freeman that. 1 had cut the ear of one ofthe Nlons, 

10. "I was mestmi for this incident by the City of Jacksonville Police 

Dopartmeat after 1 was diaehaged fhm the hospital. T was in the hospital for Wo 

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.AQ 1746, I deolam under penalty ofperjury that the 

foregoing is true aad correct 

Case 1:06-cv-00691-RBP Document 24 Filed 05/15/07 Page 24 of 24