Maryland board OKs settlement in police custody death case
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A state board in Maryland approved a $400,000 settlement on Wednesday in the case of a Baltimore man who died during a struggle with police, and a second settlement with the city could bring the total amount of compensation to $1 million.
The Board of Public Works approved the settlement for Tyrone West’s family. Tawanda Jones, West’s sister, has held weekly demonstrations dubbed West Wednesday’s since her brother’s 2013 death to raise awareness about Baltimore police practices. She said she withdrew from the lawsuit and isn’t receiving any money, because she didn’t want to agree to stop pursuing criminal charges.
“I’m on the right side of justice, and that’s holding these killer cops accountable,” Jones said. “The next time they see Tawanda Jones down at a table, it’s going to be in a courtroom so these killer cops can be in cell blocks.”
A $600,000 settlement will be brought before Baltimore officials next month, A. Dwight Pettit, a family attorney, said. The money will go to West’s three children, he said.