Latest news with #DanielRussell
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Cops accused of ‘crushing' 32-year-old dad to death in TN traffic stop, suit says
A man died following a traffic stop in Tennessee when officers held him face-down on the ground and sat on him, 'essentially crushing him to death,' according to a new lawsuit. The family of 32-year-old Daniel Russell is suing two deputies with the Henry County Sheriff's Office and two officers with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency after they say Russell's heart stopped during an arrest in April 2024 and he died. Body camera footage showed Russell's arrest, as well as officers' realization he had become unresponsive as they held him on the ground. 'The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is aware of a lawsuit in which two TWRA law enforcement officers are named as defendants,' the agency said in a statement. 'The incident occurred while the officers were assisting a local Sheriff's Office. As this matter is currently in litigation, the Agency will not comment on the specifics of the case.' McClatchy News also reached out to the Henry County Sheriff's Office for comment April 25 but did not immediately receive a response. An autopsy revealed Russell's cause of death was 'cardiopulmonary arrest during law enforcement subdual and restraint with back compression,' according to the lawsuit filed in federal court April 17 on behalf of Russell's young daughter. Deadly arrest Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff's Office said they got a call about a reckless and possibly impaired driver on April 20, 2024 and found a car driving in the grassy median. The driver, later identified as Russell, was accused of fleeing law enforcement, driving on the wrong side of the road before officers boxed him in. The lawsuit describes the incident as a 'low speed' pursuit. Body worn camera footage shared by David Randolph Smith & Associates, the law firm representing Russell's family, shows officers get out of their vehicles with guns drawn. The video shows Russell get out of the car and lower himself to the ground, and a struggle ensues to arrest him. Law enforcement said he resisted arrest, leading them to use 'less lethal options' to take him into custody. A deputy used a Taser and pepper spray while Russell was on the ground 'despite Russell's apparent confusion and impairment,' the lawsuit says. Russell displayed signs of methamphetamine use, according to the filing. The footage shows officers holding him on the ground and trying to grab his hands, then one deploys a stun gun as Russell could be heard yelling for them to stop because he has heart problems. One officer sat on Russell's back and restrained him as he lay on his stomach while another held his hand on Russell's upper back, the footage shows. In the video, officers are seen holding him face-down on the ground for minutes as he's handcuffed until they realize he's unresponsive and call medical personnel over. 'Within minutes, Russell became unresponsive, and (an officer) administered two doses of Narcan, incorrectly assuming an opioid overdose, while no officer initiated CPR or proper airway management,' the lawsuit says. EMS on scene attempted lifesaving measures until Russell was pronounced dead at a hospital, the sheriff's office said. Family sues The four law enforcement officers are accused of using excessive force in violation of Russell's civil rights. The lawsuit also cites the municipality of Henry County, saying law enforcement should be trained to know the risks of positional asphyxia, which family says led to Russell's death. Family wrote in Russell's obituary that he went by DJ and worked at a tire shop. 'DJ loved riding around with his daughter ... and singing songs together,' family said. 'He enjoyed swimming and going to the river. He was always helping and serving others.' Henry County is in northwestern Tennessee on the border with Kentucky.
The Guardian
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
California Uber and Lyft drivers push for settlement in wage theft claims
Ride-share drivers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego held demonstrations in front of city hall buildings on Wednesday as California state attorney General Rob Bonta, city attorneys and attorneys representing ride-share drivers continue negotiations next week with Uber and Lyft to settle thousands of claims of wage theft for drivers. At least 250,000 individual ride-share drivers in California who drove for the apps between 2016 and 2020 are estimated to be eligible for the settlement for wage theft claims of tens of billions of dollars, according to Rideshare Drivers United in California. In 2020, more than 5,000 drivers filed wage and hour claims with the California Labor Commission office against Uber and Lyft, alleging they were misclassified as independent contractors prior to the passage of Prop 22, a ballot initiative that created an exemption for gig workers to be classified as independent contractors. Daniel Russell worked full-time as a ride-share driver for Uber and Lyft between 2016 and 2020 in San Bernardino, California, and now works as a teacher and drives part-time. He estimates being owed about $300,000 from both companies in unpaid wages, including unpaid overtime, meal and rest breaks, and mileage reimbursement. 'The more I drove, it seemed, the more I got manipulated,' he said. 'One of the big ways you're losing is the depreciation on your car.' During that time, Russell said he worked 70- to 80-hour weeks, often chasing bonuses or trying to make up for the unreliable and inconsistent pay, and put 270,000 miles (435,000km) on a single vehicle in just over three years before it broke down, just as he finished paying it off. 'I get very frustrated when I hear ride-share companies claim it's a part-time job, it's not meant to be full time. No. They created a market and business that is relying on full-time labor, so they have to take accountability for that full-time labor,' he added. 'They built this massive company on the back of our labor. They were undercutting cab companies. They took losses for years to make this happen. Hopefully they will be held accountable for the law they weren't following before they wrote their own law, Prop 22. Drivers are entitled to that money.' Ben Valdez, an Uber driver in Los Angeles since 2015 who was working 20 to 25 hours a week during the four-year period, said he's owed nearly $200,000 from his wage theft claim he filed against the company. 'The companies need to pay the drivers what they what they're owed. They took advantage of a lot of drivers during the period of time,' said Valdez. 'It's not just about the earnings. There should be compensation for time based on the hours you actually work. The state of California needs to know that it's not just about the money owed. It's about changing the way that these companies operate.' Ibrahim Diallo, a ride-share driver based in San Francisco, claimed his pay has declined over the years during his time working for the apps. Studies, including those from the University of California, Berkeley, and the National Equity Atlas, have shown that pay for ride-share and delivery apps have remained significantly low, often below hourly minimum wage rates with expenses, taxes, and active working time taken into account, including after Prop 22 was enacted in California. Uber and Lyft have disputed low hourly average wages for drivers. 'I have struggled recently against homelessness while trying to still work as a driver,' Diallo said to Rideshare Drivers United. 'After expenses, many of us are earning less than minimum wage. This is inhumane. We need accountability and for the state to force these companies to make better standards for work.' A spokesperson for Uber said in an email 'drivers come to Uber precisely because of the unique flexibility that it provides. Prop 22 safeguarded their choice to work independently, while ensuring important new protections. The voters of California have spoken – overwhelmingly – and we look forward to putting these years-old matters behind us.' Lyft did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
USA Today
26-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
MSU Hockey extends Big Ten lead in shootout win over Minnesota
Michigan State hockey took a big step towards another Big Ten regular season title on Saturday night. The Spartans knocked off No. 4 Minnesota on Saturday night with a shootout was a back-and-forth game with the difference coming in a shootout thanks to goals from Daniel Russell and Isaac Howard. The game will be considered a tie officially, but the shootout win for the Spartans means they'll get the extra point in the Big Ten standings. Michigan State earned five of the six available points in this weekend's two-game series against Minnesota. The Spartans now hold a five-point lead over the Golden Gophers in Big Ten play. Click here to read complete game coverage from Nathaniel Bott of the Lansing State Journal. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on Twitter @RobertBondy5.
