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City Pays $500K for Off-Duty Police Dog Bites,
$400K for Violence Against Man in Wheelchair at Protest
Portland Copwatch Releases Updated "Top 25 Settlements" List for 2024

In the months from October to December, the City paid out over $1,000,000 for more police misconduct, but not without some surprises along the way. The top-dollar payout was $500,000 to Kristina and Jason Norris of Happy Valley, a small city on the outskirts of Portland, who were both attacked by Siggi, a police dog (K-9) in 2021. Siggi escaped from the yard of Sergeant Jeffrey Dorn. The surprise here: Chief Bob Day appeared at City Council when the case was heard, explaining measures the Bureau has taken to ensure such an incident will not happen again. This is precisely the kind of conversation Portland Copwatch (PCW) has been asking the City Council to have every time we testify about these settlements. On November 20, the City then approved a $400,000 payment to Dustin Ferreira, a man with "brittle bone disease" who has to use a wheelchair to get around. During a protest on September 28, 2020, Sgt. Justin Damerville pushed Ferreira, spun his wheelchair around and yanked his arms up to handcuff him, causing significant damage. Another surprise was finding a payment of $5965 to Lindsay Day for damage done to her car by a bullet fired by Officer Christopher Sathoff on September 19, 2022. If that date sounds familiar, it's because Sathoff's bullet was one aimed at Immanueal Clark-Johnson, who was killed by Sathoff despite being unarmed, running away, and not the suspect he was looking for (PPR #88). On December 11, Council approved $100,000 settlement for Zaire Wellmon, a 25 year old Black man who was singled out for arrest and attack during a Black Lives Matter protest in August, 2020. Meanwhile, PCW released an updated version of its "Top 25 Settlements" list online for 2024, adding more than $1.3 million over the 2023 totals.

When Good Doggies Go Bad

Siggi first attacked Mrs. Norris, biting her arm and dragging her to the ground. When Mr. Norris tried to intervene, the dog bit his leg and attempted to drag him. The Chief and Council apologized to the Norrises, which normally would make the City Attorney squirm as an admission of wrongdoing, but the settlement was already locked in. PCW raised questions about Sgt. Dorn, who was involved in the shooting of Paul Ropp in 2014 (PPR #62), and whether he was held accountable for Siggi before he retired in December 2023. No answer. We also raised questions about teaching dogs to attack and bite people. Silver lining-- Siggi was retired to a police dog sanctuary of sorts in Texas, or at least that's what the Chief told Council. A farm in upstate New York was a bit of a stretch.

Damerville's Gone But His Legacy Lives On

Sgt. Damerville left the PPB, likely while under investigation, in 2022. He engaged in many violent acts during the 2020 protests. In addition to what he did to Mr. Ferreira, he was one of two officers who attacked Dmitri Stoyanoff while Stoyanoff was trying to register people to vote, leading to a $100,000 settlement (PPR #85). He also pepper sprayed Marie Tyvoll in the face leading her to demand a civil trial in November 2024. She did not prevail (Oregonian, November 15). Damerville is now an officer in Brentwood, Tennessee. The settlement for Mr. Ferreira is the largest for a single person at the 2020 protests. The amount includes attorney fees and was more than what the City might otherwise have paid due to laws allowing triple awards to vulnerable persons.

Chipped Tooth and Concussion for Zaire Wellmon

Wellmon was with his sister, Tanzania by the North Precinct when officers grabbed Tanzania. Zaire yelled at them to stop. They turned to him, pushing him face-first into the pavement, breaking a tooth and causing a concusstion. The legal complaint also says the police put him in a squad car, took him out and put him in various choke holds. Council made no comments when approving the $100,000 settlement. PCW's records show the payouts just for violence at 2020 protests is now at least $3,065,134.22.

Stray Gunshot Damages Parked Car

The botched police action culminating in the shooting of Mr. Clark-Johnson happened late at night. Otherwise, if someone had been sitting in the passenger seat of Ms. Day's car, they would surely be dead. A bullet reportedly went through the passenger door and the seat, landing in the back seat. Ms. Day's claim was filed a few days after the shooting, indicating she probably was given advice on how to get reimbursed for property damage without getting tied up in the Clark-Johnson family's lawsuit about whether Officer Sathoff should have fired his AR-15 rifle at all.

City Appeals Townsend Verdict

The totals for 2024 would be higher by over $1 million if the City had let stand the jury verdict awarding the family of Michael Townsend for his death at the hands of Officer Curtis Brown (PPR #84). In PPR #93 we incorrectly stated what the City had done, which was to ask the judge to vacate the verdict (he said no). On September 4, Council voted 3-2 to appeal the verdict, claiming they need clarity on the new Oregon law requiring de-escalation before the use of deadly force. Commissioners Rubio and Ryan voted no.

Top 25 Since 1993 Add Up to Over $16 Million

PCW's webpage shows the highest payouts since 1993-- settlements, jury awards and judgments-- top $16.2 million, with another $7.3 million paid out in over 500 other incidents. The new totals include $100,000 for the family of Koben Henriksen, killed by police in 2019 (PPR #79), $300,000 paid out to protestor Michael Weisdorf (PPR #91) and the $500,000 to the Norrises. PCW also includes payments for car crashes caused by police between 2013 and 2024, now over $2.2 million. PCW has noted that the new City Council will only be required to approve settlements of over $50,000, far more than the current $5000 threshold. PCW has asked the City to ensure all police misconduct cases over $5000 go to Council anyway.

January, 2025
Also in PPR #94

Portland Copwatch
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242
(503) 236-3065/ Incident Report Line (503) 321-5120
e-mail: copwatch@portlandcopwatch.org

Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.

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