Arabic Man Files Suit Against Richardson Police - Paralyzed for Life after Marijuana Traffic Stop

From [HERE] A man who was paralyzed from the waist down after a violent run-in with two Richardson police officers is suing the city and the officers in federal court for shooting him. Ahmad Ismail claims in the federal suit filed Thursday that the officers violated his civil rights by shooting him during a traffic stop and turning him into a paraplegic. The suit says the city failed to properly train the officers.

“The gunshot wound to his back shattered multiple vertebrae and permanently damaged his spinal cord,” the lawsuit said. Ahmad was pulled over in Richardson in an empty parking lot at 9:30 p.m. off of North Central Expressway. The lawsuit doesn’t say when this happened. Officer Travis Bannister recognized him; he had arrested him says earlier on a marijuana possession charge, the lawsuit said. According to the lawsuit, the following sequence of events followed:

Other officers arrived to assist. Bannister asked Ahmad why he had drugs on his lap and asked him to open the car door.  Ahmad panicked and began driving in reverse towards Bannister’s car. Neither Bannister nor Officer Matthew Lynch were behind Ahmad’s car. Both officers then drew their guns and ordered Ahmad out of the vehicle. Ahmad then tried to flee by driving away from the officers, who then both opened fire at the vehicle.

The suit said Bannister knew Ahmad wasn’t a violent person and knew where to find him if he got away. It says Ahmad’s civil rights were violated, causing him serious injury.