Sandra Slaton
Thomas C. Horne
Kristin Roebuck Bethell
Matthew J. Monaco
Ida Araya

Horne Slaton, PLLC
Scottsdale Spectrum
6720 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 285
Scottsdale, Arizona 85253

Tel. 480/483-2178
Fax. 480/367-0691
www.horneslaton.com
horne@horneslaton.com

June 12, 2019

City Clerk of the City of Phoenix
200 West Washington Street,
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
Dear Sir/Mdm.
This is a Notice Of Claim pursuant to A.R.S. section 12-821.01. Service of
process is on you pursuant to Rule 4.1(h)(3) of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure.
The claim is on behalf of Dravon Ames and Iesha Harper and their children London
Drake, age 1, and Island Drake, age 4, and against a Police Officer whose name is
believed to be Meyer, Phoenix Police Department, and the City Of Phoenix.
On or about May 29, at approximately noon, the following people were
shopping at the Family Dollar store at 36 Street and McDowell Road in Phoenix:
Dravon Ames and Iesha Harper, parents of London Drake, age 1, and Island Drake,
age 4.
It was not until the parents got back into their car that they realized that Island
had taken a doll from the store. They were not aware of that earlier. They drove to
32nd St. and Roosevelt, the building on the northeast corner, which is the residence
of their babysitter. A police car pulled in behind them. There had been no sirens or
lights prior to that indicating that they should stop their car. A police officer, who
we believe is named Meyer, came to the front driver side of the car with a gun pulled,
pulled open the door, and stated to the father: "I'm going to put a cap in your ass".
Later he stated "I'm gonna shoot you in your fucking face". Both statements were in
front of the children in the back of the car.
This officer was from the central city precinct, and the rules are that they
should have body cameras, but they did not. They filed no incident report.

 City Clerk of the City of Phoenix
June 12, 2019
Page 2 of 4
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The police officer then went to the back door on the driver side but could not
open it because it was malfunctioning. He banged on the rear window. The mother
and the two children were in the backseat on the driver side. The police officer said
"open the fucking door". The mother said “the door won't open.” The police officer
said "put your fucking hands up". The mother said "my hands are up", which they
were at the time.
A second officer came with a gun to the front seat on the driver side and
pointed it at the father.
The first officer pulled the father out of the car. The father did not resist in
any way then or at any time. The officer put the father on the ground, and pushed
the father’s head onto the hot pavement. The father tried to protest that he was
complying and not resisting. The officer stated, falsely, that he was resisting. The
officer stated "you have to do what I fucking tell you". The officer handcuffed the
father on the ground. There was no resistance. The handcuffs were too tight.
The firsts officer then yanked up the father by his hands, threw his head
against the door of the car which closed the door, and then threw him up against the
back of the car. He told the father to spread his legs, which the father did. The officer
kicked him in the right leg so hard that the father collapsed, and then the officer
yanked him back up. He kept his knee between the father’s legs. He punched the
father very hard in the back for no reason.
More officers arrived, put the father in a police car, and kept them there for
an hour. They did not loosen the handcuffs until after 1/2 hour in the car. They asked
him "did you steal the fucking car". He responded that he owned the car, which was
a true statement.
The first officer issued a ticket but put another officer's name on the ticket.
The car was impounded with no justification. The father now was unable to
get to work. He had been gainfully employed at a warehouse. He is limping, cannot
stand straight or carry weight. All of this is reducing his earning capacity.

 City Clerk of the City of Phoenix
June 12, 2019
Page 3 of 4
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The first officer then pointed the gun again at the mother and the children. The
second officer walked around the car and continued to point a gun at the mother and
the children. The mother was pregnant, which was obvious from her appearance.
The mother and children exited from the rear driver side. The first officer grabbed
the mother and the baby around both of their necks, and tried to take the baby out of
the mother's hand. He told her to put the baby on the ground, which she was
unwilling to do because the baby could not walk, and the ground consisted of hot
pavement. The first officer pulled the baby by the arm to get her away from the
mother, which injured the arm, in a condition known as "dead arm". Island has been
having nightmares and wetting her bed, which she has not done before this incident.
The mother gave the child to a lady bystander. The officers then handcuffed
her, which hurt her arm. The mother and father both had bruises on her arms.
The officer threw her into the police car face first. She was kept in the car for
15 minutes. The first officer, Myers, came back and yelled at her. He kept saying "I
could have shot you in front of your fucking kids."
On information and belief, Family Dollar store made no complaint, and the
police proceeded on the basis of what they were told by some anonymous alleged
witness. Also on information and belief, the city has indicated that the police officers
were acting improperly.
The police officers committed battery, unlawful imprisonment, false arrest,
infliction of emotional distress, and violation of civil rights under the fifth and 14th
amendments of the United States Constitution, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983. On all
the claims other than the violation of civil rights, the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix
Police Department are liable under a theory of respondeat superior. On the civil
rights action, the city is liable because of inadequate policies, training, supervision,
and based on ratification.
This case can settle for $2.5 million for each of the four claimants, or a total

 City Clerk of the City of Phoenix
June 12, 2019
Page 4 of 4
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of $10 million. It can be settled individually with one or more of the claimants, or
with the entire group, at the dollar figure stated above.
Sincerely,
HORNE SLATON, PLLC

Thomas C. Horne, Esq.
TCH/ml