The family of a man shot by an LAPD officer on the Venice Boardwalk last month has filed a lawsuit against the city, saying the police chief’s recommendation the officer be criminally prosecuted isn’t enough.
Lawyers for the family said Tuesday that though they agree with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck that Brendon Glenn was wrongly shot, the city hasn’t done enough to pursue justice for a young man who came to Venice to pursue the LA dream.
Speaking on behalf of Glenn’s grieving mother, the lawyers portrayed Glenn as a dreamer, talented in computers and construction, who chose to live on the Venice Boardwalk.
“Since this tragedy she is heartbroken. His son is heartbroken. Avery asks ‘Why can’t I ever see my father,’” said James DeSimone, referencing Glenn’s 3-year-old son.
The lawyers said Glenn was not homeless, as he has been described.
“Brendon was not homeless. Brendon had a home back in Troy, New York, where he lived with his family,” said John Raphing, who is also representing the family.
That family has now filed state and federal wrongful death lawsuits against the city and LAPD Officer Clifford Proctor. They said when Proctor shot and killed Glenn in May 2015, it was partly the result of improper training.
They pointed to a coroner’s report that showed Glenn was shot twice in the back. And while they applaud Beck’s recommendation Proctor be prosecuted, they demanded he release surveillance video that reportedly recorded the shooting.
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Proctor’s lawyer says the video will support Proctor’s belief Glenn was reaching for his partner’s gun.
The LA County District Attorney issued a statement in response to questions about the standing of any potential prosecution of Proctor: “We only received LAPD’s investigation at the end of December. Our reviews are thorough and take time. Nothing will happen for some time.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Glenn’s family’s lawyers expect to get the video as part of the discovery process in the lawsuit, but they say it should be released to the public right away.
