ROGERS, AR (KNWA) — The family of a woman shot and killed by Rogers police in 2011 has refiled a federal lawsuit against the city and police officers.
Vince Motsinger, Nick Torkelson and Scott Clifton, who all worked for the police department at the time, are named in the suit.
In August of 2011, officers tased, shot and killed Fallon Frederick in a convenience store. Frederick, whose family says she was schizophrenic, called 911 from the store because she believed someone was following her.
When officers arrived at the store, she was in the back corner holding her purse and a knife. Police say when Frederick refused to put her knife down, one officer tried to tase her, but it was blocked by her purse. The officers said they shot her when she lunged at one of them with the knife. The prosecutor’s office later ruled the shooting justified.
A wrongful death lawsuit filed in 2013 by Frederick’s family was dismissed without prejudice in June of 2014, but the time period to file a lawsuit was extended for another year.
The lawsuit refiled on Tuesday by Attorney Robert Newcomb claims Frederick suffered from mental illness and officers acted with excessive force. The lawsuit also says the city failed to provide proper training and equipment to officers dealing with the mentally ill.
KNWA/FOX 24 reached out to the City of Rogers about the lawsuit. Officials say the people named in the lawsuit have not yet been served. Calls made to Attorney Robert Newcomb’s office were not returned.
