Court Opinion

ID: 59441
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 03:17:45+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:49.197527
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                             FILED
                       FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                         ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                     FEBRUARY 8, 2008
                               No. 07-10769          THOMAS K. KAHN
                         ________________________        CLERK

                  D. C. Docket No. 03-02989-CV-7-UWC-W

LAQUARIUS GRAY, a minor, by and
through her mother and next
friend, Toniko L. Alexander,

                                                         Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                    versus

ANTONIO BOSTIC, individually and
in his official capacity as
Deputy Sheriff for Tuscaloosa
County, AL,

                                                    Defendant-Appellant,

EDMUND SEXTON, individually and in
his official capacity as Sheriff for
Tuscaloosa County, AL,
JOYCE HARRIS, individually and in her
official capacity as Principal of
Holt Elementary School, Tuscaloosa, AL,
et al.,

                                                               Defendants.
                             ________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Alabama
                           _________________________

                                   (February 8, 2008)

Before BLACK, CARNES and COX, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

        We understand Deputy Bostic’s latest position in this case to be that he had

probable cause, or at least arguable probable cause, to arrest Laquarius Gray, and

for that reason his handcuffing of her was a reasonable use of force to make an

arrest. Having carefully considered the briefs, the pertinent parts of the record, and

the oral argument of counsel, we conclude that, viewing the evidence in the light

most favorable to Deputy Bostic, he lacked even arguable probable cause to arrest

Gray.

        Absent probable cause to arrest Gray, Bostic’s handcuffing of her amounted

to the use of excessive force. Bashir v. Rockdale County, Ga., 445 F.3d 1323,

1332 (11th Cir. 2006) (“It follows, then, if an arresting officer does not have the

right to make an arrest, he does not have the right to use any degree of force in

making that arrest.”); Jackson v. Sauls, 206 F.3d 1156, 1171 (11th Cir. 2000) (“[I]f

a stop or arrest is illegal, then there is no basis for any threat or any use of force . . .

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.”); see also Thornton v. City of Macon, 132 F.3d 1395, 1400 (11th Cir. 1998)

(holding that where neither plaintiff “was suspected of having committed a serious

crime, neither posed an immediate threat to anyone, and neither actively resisted

arrest . . . . the officers were not justified in using any force”).

       We are also unpersuaded by any of Bostic’s other contentions and conclude

that the district court did not err in granting judgment as a matter of law against

Bostic.

       AFFIRMED.

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