SAN DIEGO (CN) — The city of San Diego will have to face claims its police officers violated the civil and First Amendment rights of a cop watcher after they reportedly drew guns, beat and detained him and dragged him while he was already in handcuffs.
Muslah Abdul-Hafeez says he suffered a fractured shoulder and back and wrist injuries after being arrested in 2023 while attempting to document San Diego Police Department bike team officers’ response to a shooting.
As a cop watcher who’s well known to the local police department, especially its bike unit, Abdul-Hafeez claims that not only were his First Amendment rights violated, but officers conspired to unlawfully detain and search him and use excessive force. They ultimately arrested him, he adds, because he’s Black…