Woman who was bitten on the scalp by a police dog reaches $1 million settlement with California city

The city of Brentwood, California, has agreed to pay Talmika Bates nearly $1 million to settle a lawsuit alleging excessive force by police during her arrest. Bates was hiding in bushes after being suspected of shoplifting when a police K-9 bit into her scalp, causing her to require over 200 stitches and other treatments. She has been diagnosed with brain injuries and PTSD as a result. Civil rights attorney Adante Pointer emphasized the danger posed by police K-9s, calling them lethal weapons that can cause life-altering damage or even death. The settlement comes after a federal judge stripped the officer handling the K-9 of some qualified immunity protection, suggesting that the extended time the dog bit Bates could be considered excessive force. Despite this, Brentwood Police Chief Timothy Herbert stated that the officer lawfully deployed the K-9 in the search and had the right to use it to apprehend Bates. As a result of the settlement, the city has no working K-9 officers in the police department. The decision to settle was made to avoid further litigation and appeal costs associated with the case.

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