The woman beaten by a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer as she walked along the Santa Monica (10) Freeway in July has settled with the law enforcement agency for approximately $1.5 million.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday, almost three months since officer Daniel Andrew was caught on video straddling and pummeling Marlene Pinnock, who was walking barefoot on the freeway — at times within traffic lanes.
According to the CHP, Andrew was attempting to stop Pinnock from walking along the freeway, but she ignored his commands and became combative. At that point, a “physical altercation” ensued.
“When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement. “We have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved. I am thankful to the attorneys representing both sides who worked cooperatively and diligently to resolve this civil lawsuit.”
He said the majority of the settlement has been used to establish a special needs trust to provide Pinnock “a mechanism” for long-term care. In previous interviews, one of her attorneys, John Burris, has stated that Pinnock has a history of mental illness.
“I very much appreciate the trust the public has placed in our organization to address this issue and resolve it responsibly,” Farrow added.
He announced that Andrew has decided to resign. Whether he will face criminal charges is unclear. A representative of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said the case is still under review.
On Aug. 20, the CHP announced that it had finished its investigation into the matter, and that it had forwarded the case to the district attorney’s office. In the press release, CHP officials stated that Andrew could face “potentially serious charges.”
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