AKRON, Ohio — A woman who was body-slammed by an Akron police officer during an incident two years ago has agreed to settle her excessive force lawsuit with the police department for $47,500.
3News Investigates first reported in December that Dierra Fields had reached a preliminary settlement agreement with police and the city. Akron spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh told 3News media partner Cleveland.com that the deal was officially signed on Monday and was expected to be finalized in court this week.
“This is a huge victory for community. This sends a message to the community to fight back against police violence and sends a message to the city of Akron that the community will no longer tolerate this violence,” Fields’ attorney Imokhai Okolo said in a statement. “The city of Akron needs to hold officers accountable greater than just financial civil penalties that tax payers get the bill for.”
CASE DETAILS
On Jan. 11, 2024, Officer Thomas Shoemaker responded to a family argument on the 800 block of Saxon Avenue in Akron. According to Fields’ lawsuit, Shoemaker body-slammed Fields during the incident, with Fields being handcuffed and slammed to the ground headfirst despite not resisting…