Idriss Stelley's Mom Files Civil Claim

<strong>Mother of Young Man Killed by SFPD at Metreon Files Civil Claim</strong><br>
Claim for Damages Filed Against City of San Francisco for Fatal Metreon Shooting
<br><br>
WHAT: Press Conference and Community Rally, including the mother of Idriss Stelley and representatives from Bay Area PoliceWatch<br>
WHEN: Wednesday September 5th, 2001 11:00am<br>
WHERE: SF City Hall, Front Steps, #1 Dr. Carleton B. Goodlet Plaza
<br><br>
(San Francisco) The mother of Idriss Stelley, the young man killed by San Francisco Police Officers at the Metreon Theater, will file an administrative claim against the city of San Francisco on Wednesday, September 5th. The administrative claim for damages, filed with the Board of Supervisors, alleges police misconduct and liability on the part of the city for the more than 20 shots fired at Stelley by San Francisco Police Officers.
<br><br>
Stelley's mother, Mesha Monge-Irizarry will be joined by community supporters at city hall to file the claim. Monge-Irizarry's attorney, Andrew Schwartz, a prominent police misconduct attorney and Bay Area PoliceWatch lawyer referral panel member will be available for comment from his offices in Walnut Creek.
<br><br>
The use of force by the San Francisco Police officer's involved does not seem justified and the city must be held liable for it's employees misconduct." said Andrew Schwartz, the family's attorney.
<br><br>
Bay Area PoliceWatch, a local watchdog group working with the family, has expressed concern about the Police Department's continued withholding of information from the family. Since her son's death, despite persistent requests, Ms. Monge-Irizarry has yet to receive the names of the five civilian witnesses known to be present during the shooting.
<br><br>
"We hope that the filing of this claim and any subsequent litigation will force the San Francisco Police Department to finally release such basic information as the names of the civilian witnesses," said Samantha Liapes, Bay Area PoliceWatch Director.<br><br>
"It is a travesty of justice and a shame on the San Francisco Police Department that the family has to rely on the civil claim process to access to the truth about what really happened that night."
<br><br>
Idriss Stelly, a 23 year old, 4.0 college student with no criminal record, was shot more than 20 times and killed by police officers Wednesday June 13th at the Sony Metreon Theater in downtown San Francisco.
<br><br>