ST. LOUIS -- A family is suing after claims that a man was "executed" by members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Adonis H. Clark, Sherrie Clark-Torrance, Ashley Boureima Mourou and A.C., a minor through her mother and next friend Necole Fisher, as the surviving children of Don Clark Sr. decedent, filed a complaint on June 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against the City of St. Louis and multiple individuals of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for wrongful death, unlawful search and seizure, unlawful authorization of SWAT team, excessive force, deliberate indifference and municipal liability.
According to the complaint, on Feb. 21, 2017, officers with SLMPD’s Special Weapons And Tactics (“SWAT”) Team served three “no knock” search warrants on Don Clark Sr.'s street.
Clark Sr. had moved to the area days before and gave his eight-year-old daughter the only room in the house. Clark Sr. had set his bed up in the front room across from the front door and was usually in bed by 8 p.m., the suit says.
While he was sound asleep, a SWAT team of more than 17 officers simultaneously executed the “no knock” warrants at 4023 California St. by ramming the doors down, detonating diversionary devices inside, and rushing into the home with weapons drawn, the suit says. Clark Sr., who suffered from hearing loss, remained asleep and woke as police rammed through his door, the suit says.
At no point did the intruders give instructions, such as to put his hands up, but instead after banging the door down, the unknown intruders lobbed a diversionary device into his home and gave no warning to put his hands up or any other instructions, the suit says. Without a warning, Defendant Nicholas Manasco shot a barrage of bullets from an assault rifle, the suit says.
Other officers stood over Clark Sr.'s body and after crucial minutes, finally called medical energy services, the suit says.
Plaintiffs seek economic, compensatory and punitive damages, pre and post-judgment interest, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Plaintiffs are represented by Emanuel Powell.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:21-cv-00788