By Libor Jany
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — When two Los Angeles cops refused to go away his condo throughout a welfare examine, Slade Douglas felt he had no alternative however to name 911.
The Aug. 27, 2019, encounter started after somebody from the Department of Veterans Affairs incorrectly reported to authorities that Douglas could also be suicidal, in line with a lawsuit he later filed towards the town and the 2 officers who responded to his door.
| WEBINAR: From response to decision — main police operations within the video period
Douglas informed police there had been a misunderstanding and that he wasn’t a hazard to himself or others. But as an alternative of leaving, the officers insisted on taking him into custody for his personal security below California’s Welfare and Institutions Code, often known as a 5150 maintain.
They put him in handcuffs and took him to a hospital. What adopted, he stated, was a nightmare of pressured sedation, drug testing and the more and more determined makes an attempt by the officers to justify his detainment.
Douglas sued, claiming that the incident violated his constitutional rights — and a jury agreed with him, awarding $6.8 million in damages after a civil trial that ended earlier this month.
A U.S. Army veteran and former faculty soccer participant, Douglas, 49, stated he felt he had no alternative however to take the town to courtroom to “ensure that this doesn’t happen to another person.”
“There was no basis for this forced treatment. Mr. Douglas was not a danger to himself or others, and he was not on drugs, nor has he ever used illegal drugs,” Douglas’ lawsuit learn.
Emails searching for remark from the LAPD and the town legal professional’s workplace weren’t instantly returned Monday.
In an interview with The Times, Douglas stated the helplessness and humiliation he felt at being detained nonetheless leaves him indignant.
Douglas had been on the telephone earlier with a consultant from the VA’s help hotline to make a criticism about discrimination he stated he was dealing with. But the dialog went sideways and finally he hung up in frustration.
The VA employee referred to as the Los Angeles Police Department and urged them to conduct a welfare examine on him — although the lawsuit says that he “did not have any intention to harm himself, nor did he express such a desire to the hotline operator.”
When LAPD officers Jeffrey Yabana and Jeremy Wheeler confirmed up at his condo, Douglas stated he invited them in and defined that there had been a misunderstanding. Footage from the officers’ physique cameras — launched as reveals through the trial — captured what occurred subsequent: Douglas stays calm at first of the encounter, however quickly begins to query why the officers aren’t leaving.
“I’m about to put you in handcuffs, sir,” Wheeler is heard saying.
“If you do that that’s your choice,” Douglas responded.
“OK,” Wheeler says. “Turn around. Put your hands behind your back.”
Douglas stated he tried to keep up his composure, however when he pulled out his cellphone and stated was calling 911, the lawsuit contended, they responded by knocking it out of his palms.
“Put down the damn phone!” Wheeler may be heard saying on the body-camera footage.
The officers proceeded to handcuff Douglas together with his palms behind his again, ignoring his pleas that he suffered from spinal accidents, and took him to the hospital.
Once there, Douglas stated he overheard the officers discussing what to do with him, saying one thing to the impact of needing to “find something” in his system to justify the arrest. At one level, medical workers inserted a catheter over his objections, he stated.
In courtroom filings, the officers stated they frightened that Douglas may use his telephone “as a weapon.” Wheeler acknowledged that Douglas appeared calm, however stated it was his expertise as a police officer that suicidal folks will deny eager to hurt themselves to keep away from being detained.
Douglas stated he feels considerably vindicated by the jury’s determination, and is raring to begin placing the incident behind him. But he nonetheless has hassle sleeping, he stated, generally snapping awake in the midst of the night time, interested by the ordeal.
A former standout soccer participant who gained a nationwide championship with Florida State, adopted by a quick stint within the Army that ended with a medical discharge for PTSD, Douglas has shared his story in a documentary and on nationwide packages like “The Tavis Smiley Show” and stated he’s weighing a run for Congress.
His lawsuit argued that the LAPD was finally accountable below what is named a Monell declare, which may maintain supervisors accountable for the actions of lower-ranking officers if it may be confirmed that the conduct was a part of a long-standing customized or observe.
The jury award — which can seemingly be appealed and nonetheless wants approval from metropolis leaders — provides stress on LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell to deal with the expensive payouts from police-related lawsuits annually. Because taxpayer cash is used to cowl the payouts, such lawsuits have come below growing scrutiny given the town’s monetary issues.
During trial, Douglas’ attorneys offered proof that Wheeler had a historical past of alcohol abuse and had been recognized with bipolar dysfunction and schizophrenia — leading to a number of off-duty violent episodes, together with one occasion through which his ex-wife referred to as the station the place he labored to report that he had threatened her. In 2014, he underwent 30 days of therapy on the Betty Ford Clinic.
According to personnel information launched to the plaintiffs, the division had beforehand really helpful Wheeler’s termination after an inner investigation discovered that he had did not render support to a bicyclist he had sideswiped together with his police bike.
It’s unclear how Wheeler stored his job, however, Douglas’ attorneys argued that the division shouldn’t have allowed him to proceed carrying a badge and gun.
Lauren McRae, a civil rights legal professional who was a part of Douglas’ authorized staff, stated the case revealed greater issues inside the Police Department about oversight of its officers.
“I think that the verdict really sent a message to the city that we’re not going to stand for you guys putting dangerous officers onto the streets,” she stated.
The proposal would add further penalties of as much as a 12 months in jail or an extra tremendous as much as $2,500 or each for individuals who put on face coverings whereas breaking the legislation
The Pierce County deputy pulled the driving force from the burning truck, then tried to place out the hearth with the assistance of a bystander
The suspect being questioned by police at a lodge shot the 2 Gwinnett County officers after inviting them into his room, killing Officer Pradeep Tamang
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Christopher Ohlmeyer was escorting a funeral procession when his bike was struck from behind
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.
©2026 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.