Parents of a 13-year-old dirtbike rider, Stanley Davis III, killed in Boynton Beach on Dec. 26, will file a wrongful death lawsuit against Boynton Beach Police.
The Palm Beach Post reported that prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Davis’ family, announced their plans to sue during a Zoom conference.
Crump said the white officer, who pursued the teen before he crashed, violated the city’s pursuit policy. The officer was also involved in two other police chases, one in 2012 and another in 2016, which led to the deaths of two more individuals, he said. One of the individuals killed was a 5-year-old black boy.
“A police officer with Boynton Beach engaged in a hazardous, high-speed pursuit of this 13-year-old child,” Crump said on Zoom. “We believe he violated pursuit policies that we believe is a pattern and practice of Boynton Beach and in particular of this officer.”
Davis died on 800 block of North Federal Hwy. after his bike crashed while police tried to pull him over, WPTV said. He allegedly drove extremely fast as authorities attempted to make a traffic stop. Then, Boynton Police said, the 13-year-old lost control and hit a curb at Northeast Eighth Avenue. That is when he flew off the bike and hit a one-way sign shortly before dying from his injuries.
At the Zoom Conference, Crump also said that the footage of Boynton Police chasing Davis should be released.
“We also believe that the videotape from the dashcam of the police cruiser should be released immediately to try and give some peace and calm, not only to the family but this community,” he noted.
Boynton and their police department have six months to resolve the situation without litigation. Meanwhile, the officer who chased the teen chose to conceal his identity.
Davis was a student at Congress Middle School in his hometown, where he passed away. He was gifted a dirtbike the day before he died as a late Christmas present.
