“Excess Force” Lawsuit Filed Against Southfield Police Officer and City Following Catastrophic Injuries to Motorist

Media Contact: Vince Colella @ 248.945.0100

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Southfield, Mich. ---March 28, 2025--- Personal injury and civil rights law firm Moss & Colella P.C. has
filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
against a Southfield Police Officer and the City of Southfield seeking money damages for a violent police
encounter that left a man with catastrophic spinal injuries.

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The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Valerii Turkin, alleges that on July 5, 2024, following a minor traffic
accident at Twelve Mile and Inkster Roads, the Officer used excessive and unreasonable force by body-
slamming Mr. Turkin headfirst onto the ground. Mr. Turkin, who has limited English proficiency, suffered
severe spinal injuries, including fractures to his C3, C4, and T1 vertebrae, bilateral vertebral artery
dissections, and spinal cord damage requiring emergency surgery.

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This case demonstrates police misconduct that should never be tolerated, said attorney A. Vince Colella.
"Mr. Turkin posed no threat to the officer or anyone else at the scene. He was a motorist with limited
English proficiency who had been involved in a traffic accident." According to the complaint, emergency
medical personnel at the scene reported hearing a "pop" from Mr. Turkin's neck when the Officer
slammed him to the ground. Mr. Turkin was immediately rendered unconscious and unresponsive,
requiring emergency evacuation to Ascension Providence Hospital, where he underwent complex spinal
surgery followed by seven days in intensive care and an additional ten days of hospitalization.
Unfortunately, "Mr. Turkin will likely suffer permanent disability as a result of this officer's actions, and
we intend to hold both the individual officer and the city accountable,"Colella says.

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The lawsuit alleges violations of Mr. Turkin's federal Constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment,
as well as state law claims of assault/battery and gross negligence. The complaint also names the City of
Southfield as a defendant, alleging failure to properly train, supervise, and discipline officers regarding
the use of force, particularly when dealing with individuals who face language barriers. "When a police
officer uses this type of force, it is typically reflective of an insular culture within a department and not
simply an isolated incident," Colella added.

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Moss & Colella, P.C. is a Southfield-based law firm specializing in personal injury and civil rights
litigation. The case has been assigned to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan, Southern Division.
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