Opinion ID: 678604
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Seizure of James Jr.

Text: 16 The Fullers also contend that the district court erred when it denied them leave to amend the complaint to allege a Fourth Amendment seizure of James Jr. based on the officer's pointing a loaded gun at him. The only allegation in the amended complaint relating to James Jr. is the following: 17 Defendants['] actions arbitrarily killing Champ and then pointing a gun at James Jr.'s head while threatening to send him to the morgue were not objectively reasonable and constituted the use of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. 18 In James Jr.'s affidavit, the most that is alleged is the Officer Peixoto pointed his gun directly at my head and said profane remarks to me. There is no contention that he was arrested or that his liberty was restrained, other than that he was not free to attack the officers. The officers contend that this action with the gun was necessary in order to keep James Jr. from attacking them. Although the Fullers argue that this was unnecessary, there is no contention that the officers indicated James Jr. was not free to leave. In order to constitute a seizure of the person, the action of the officers must be a restraint of liberty such that the person reasonably believes he is not free to leave. United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554 (1980). It is not sufficient to constitute a seizure when the restraint is only that the person is not free to attack the officers. 19 Even considering the amended complaint and the factual submissions relating to James Jr., the allegations are insufficient to constitute a Fourth Amendment violation for seizure of the person. The allegations may constitute a state tort violation, but as alleged, they do not constitute a constitutional violation. We conclude that the summary judgment was properly granted as to any violation of James Jr.'s constitutional rights based on a seizure of his person in violation of the Fourth Amendment.