Four join suit tied to Ferguson shooting

ST. LOUIS -- Four plaintiffs have joined a federal lawsuit that alleges law enforcement made false arrests and used excessive force when a white police officer's shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked widespread unrest.

The original suit was filed Aug. 28, following the death of Michael Brown. Plaintiffs who joined the litigation Thursday are Antawn Harris, Nathan Burns, Kia Bowers and Sandy Bowers, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The original lawsuit sought $40 million in damages and named Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson, St. Louis County police chief Jon Belmar, Ferguson officer Justin Cosma, several unnamed officers identified collectively as John Doe, and the city and county governments.

Attorney Malik Shabazz, president of Black Lawyers for Justice, told KTVI-TV the amended lawsuit seeks at least $60 million in damages.

St. Louis County counselor Patricia Redington declined to comment about the original suit, and her office phone didn't accept voice-mail messages Saturday. County police referred inquiries about the original lawsuit to Redington, while a public relations consultant working for the city of Ferguson did not respond to a request for comment.

The news of the additional plaintiffs came as St. Louis County police announced Friday they would again take charge of the security detail related to protests in Ferguson. The county said the change came at the request of Ferguson's mayor and Jackson, who cited a "lack of resources and manpower."

The suit says that about 7:40 p.m. Aug. 11, Harris saw St. Louis County police push a man to the ground and start beating him, and began filming the action.

An officer fired a rubber bullet that hit Harris between the eyes, nearly knocking him out, the lawsuit says. Harris went to the hospital suffering from bleeding, "trauma to his face, blurred vision, headaches and severe swelling," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit said Burns was among peaceful protesters that same night about 10:30 when tear gas canisters were tossed into the crowd. Officers pepper-sprayed Burns' face and mouth, and when he tried to walk away, an officer grabbed him by the hair and slammed him to the ground, the suit says. After he was handcuffed, his head was slammed to the ground again, he was sprayed again, the suit says. Burns was released after spending 24 hours in Mace-soaked clothes in jail, according to the lawsuit.

The suit also says that Kia and Sandy Bowers were in a vehicle with one of the original plaintiffs, shooting photos on Aug. 12 when police blocked them in with a tactical vehicle and arrested them and charged them with failure to disperse.