Family of Black autistic boy Beat Down by Shasta County Deputies Seeking Settlement: Unarmed, Mistaken for a Prowler

The family of a 17-year-old autistic boy who struggled with sheriff's deputies March 18 is asking to meet with Shasta County officials to discuss a legal settlement. Redding attorney T. James Fisher, who represents the boy's parents, Joel and Cynthia Cowell, told County Counsel Karen Jahr it "would appear in everyone's best interests" to try to resolve the case. Fisher says deputies exerted excessive force in using their fists, baton strikes and electric shocks from a Taser gun to subdue Pierre Cowell, who his parents say has the mental capacity of a 4-year-old and is mute. "The officers used everything at their disposal short of using their guns" even though the boy didn't have a weapon or threaten the deputies, Fisher said Friday. The Board of Supervisors will meet in closed session Tuesday to discuss the case. The Cowells have yet to file a claim in the case -- the first step toward filing a lawsuit. The struggle with deputies occurred after Pierre Cowell had wandered from his home in Mountain Gate onto a neighbor's property shortly before 2 a.m. The neighbor did not recognize Cowell when she saw him through a window and called 911 after hearing him jiggling the doorknob. Deputies Brian Jackson, Ray Breshears and Boun Kongkeoviman tried to control Cowell using force to his pressure points, according to a press release later issued by District Attorney Jerry Benito's office. As a result of the struggle, Cowell's elbow was fractured and he received a head wound requiring six stitches. After investigating the incident, Benito determined the officers did not use excessive force, he said in a report. [more]