Store Owner Who Saw Alton Sterling's Shooting Sues Police, Sheds More Light On The Issue

Store Owner Who Saw Alton Sterling's Shooting Sues Police, Sheds More Light On The Issue 

The store owner who witnessed Officer Blane Salamoni shoot and kill Alton Sterling in a parking lot last Tuesday is now suing him, other officers, and the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Abdullah Muhlafi, owner of a convenience store, claims that after Officer Salamoni shot Sterling, he told other officers to confiscate his “entire store security system.” Muhlafi’s lawsuit says that he demanded that the police get a search warrant before taking his property. It was discovered that officers never applied for a warrant, nor did Muhlafi sign a consent form.

Police also allegedly took Muhlafi’s phone — which he had used to record video of the shooting — and then Lt. Robert Cook and Officer Timothy Ballard allegedly locked him in the back of a police car for four hours, only letting him out to go to the bathroom. Even then, the lawsuit says, Muhlafi wasn’t allowed to use his store’s restroom; he had to go outside on the side of the building, an officer nearby, “in full view of the public.” 

He was then allegedly kept at a police station for another two hours. He claims that he was not permitted to call family or an attorney the entire time. The lawsuit is against Salamoni, Cook, Ballard, Police Chief Carl Dabadi, and Officer Howie Lake, who shouted “Gun!” before Salamoni shot Sterling, even though video showed that Sterling did not have a gun in his hand. 

Source: The Daily Beast