FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, June 14, 2015 – Today, after evaluating the Department of Homeland Security and United States Secret Service Vehicle Pursuit and Use of Force policies, it’s quite evident the Department of Justice is covering up the crimes committed against Miriam Iris Carey and her minor child EF, both unarmed, not wanted for a felony or any other crime for that matter.
Prior to this release, on April 20, 2015, after evaluating the actions of the United States Capitol Police and United States Secret Service in conjunction with the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and Metropolitan Police Department regarding the ‘alleged’ investigation into the shooting death of beloved Miriam Iris Carey, the Carey family responded by filing a new $200 Million dollar federal tort claim alleging a further government conspiracy.
Prior to the filing of those new federal tort claims, the Carey Family filed an amended wrongful death claim against the United States Secret Service and the United States Capitol Police on August 20, 2014, seeking $150 million dollars on behalf of The Estate of Miriam Iris Carey, Mother Idella Carey and minor child EF to compensate them for their great loss of a daughter, mother, friend and confidant.
On May 14, 2015, after completing an extensive review of the shooting report prepared by the Metropolitan Police Department regarding the Use of Force against Miriam Iris Carey by police officers assigned to the United States Capitol Police and United States Secret Service resulting in her death, the Carey family concluded there was NO LEGAL JUSTIFICATION for their actions and criminal charges should’ve been filed against the officers involved. “It’s quite evident there was no real investigation as indicated by reading MPD 161, which is an email discussing assessing the Use of Force policies of the United States Secret Service and United States Capitol Police. There was more concern over the pending civil litigation than evaluating the actions of the officers,” says Eric Sanders.
Last year, on July 10, 2014, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia claimed in a press release it and the Metropolitan Police Department conducted a comprehensive review of the incident and after such review, ‘declines to prosecute’ any of the police officers. They concluded there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to prove ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ the police officers used ‘excessive force’ or possessed the requisite criminal intent to violate Miriam’s constitutional rights. The Carey family was disappointed but, not surprised.
On September 5, 2014, and November 3, 2014, both the United States Secret Service and United States Capitol Police DENIED the federal tort claims.
On February 12, 2015, an anonymous letter was received at THE SANDERS FIRM, P.C., signed “Concerned Employees” outlining alleged deficiencies in the training of the United States Capitol Police personnel as well as the operation of the security “pop-up” barrier equipment. The Carey family was also encouraged to fight on especially for Miriam’s minor child EF.
“Well, there is absolutely nothing in the Vehicle Pursuit policy that authorized the officers to pursue Miriam and her minor child EF. There is absolutely nothing in the vaguely written Use of Force policy that authorized police personnel to discharge their service weapons towards Miriam and her minor child EF resulting in Miriam’s death. Certainly, since the officers had no authority to pursue them, they cannot establish authority to use deadly physical force against Miriam or her minor child EF. The officers and other employees assigned to the United States Secret Service – Uniform Division clearly violated their own policies especially the Vehicle Pursuit policy which clearly restricts its employee’s ability to engage in high risk vehicle pursuits favoring safety over apprehension.
The Department of Homeland Security and United States Secret Service policies are just empty words. As established during the Secret Service Oversight Hearings on September 30, 2014, the United States Secret Service is woefully untrained despite a budget well over 800 million. In 2012, Secret Service Agents received no basic training course. In 2013, they received one training course. With respect to the Uniform Division, they received only one training course in 2012 and 2013. The management, officers and other employees are simply deliberately indifferent towards upholding the United States Constitution. This deliberate indifference resulted in violations of Idella and Valarie Carey, Miriam and her minor child EF’S civil rights.
Right now we are in the process of obtaining further witnesses. Hopefully, we will obtain the Vehicle Pursuit and Use of Force policies of the United States Capitol Police. We are equally confident the police personnel assigned to the United States Capitol Police clearly violated Idella and Valarie Carey, Miriam and her minor child EF’S civil rights too.
Finally, we are calling for newly appointed Attorney General Loretta Lynch to give this matter its highest priority with a top to bottom review and FULL public disclosure. Additionally, we are demanding the United States Congress to commence its own parallel investigation into the Department of Justice’s handling of the Miriam Iris Carey shooting,” says Eric Sanders.
ABOUT THE SANDERS FIRM, P.C.
The Sanders Firm, P.C. offers those in the New York City area legal services related and connected to civil rights, civil service rights, criminal law and discrimination. We firmly believe in everyone’s individual rights that are described and guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. We understand that our freedoms and liberties are sacrosanct and that they have been won in many and various hard-fought battles. We are committed in every way to protecting your civil rights. We are your voice for justice!
CONTACT
Eric Sanders, Esq.
President and Owner, The Sanders Firm, P.C.
Business Phone: 212-652-2782
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First Federal Tort Claim
Second Federal Tort Claim
Third Federal Tort Claim
Anonymous Letter
Shooting Report
USSSUD Vehicle Pursuit and Use of Force Policies