Devin Carter

On April 2, 2021, the family of 17-year-old Devin Carter filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Stockton, California, and the four police officers who “brutally beat” the teenager during his 2020 arrest. The officers reportedly beat and kicked Carter in the face and back, while shouting curses at him.

A lawsuit filed by Carter in early April indicated that Carter was driving to his father when police officers chased him in an attempt to stop him and issue a speeding ticket. Initially, the teenager did not notice that a police car was after him, it follows from the case file.

Knowing the attitude of the police towards African Americans, Carter did not immediately stop and decided to drive to his father’s house, which was nearby. He failed to do this – a police car rammed Devin’s transport, forcing him to pull over to the side of the road and stop. After that, the police attacked Carter’s car, pulled him out of the car and beat him.

The incident resulted in the dismissal of two officers. The four police officers involved in the incident are under criminal investigation by the district attorney. The city community demanded that the names and service information of the police officers present at the incident be made public, including those who did not take part in the beating of Carter, but who were nearby and did not take action to pacify their colleagues.

In July 2021, Chief promised to work with the board of community members. “The City Manager’s Review Board, which began its examination of the Stockton Police Department’s use of force data in October of 2020, will continue their analysis in order to make meaningful changes to policing in Stockton,” he said.