Lawsuit seeks video footage from police shooting

VALLEJO (AP) – The family of a Northern California man fatally shot by police last month filed a federal lawsuit demanding the release of officers’ body camera footage of what led up to the gunfire, officials said Wednesday.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and names the San Francisco Bay Area city of Vallejo and its police department. It alleged the officer who shot Ronell Foster in the back lied about a skirmish that preceded the shooting, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

The unarmed father of two was followed by police for no reason and a witness never saw him struggle with Officer Ryan Mcmahon before the officer opened fire, the lawsuit alleged.

Vallejo police have refused requests by Foster’s family to review body camera footage of the shooting, according to the lawsuit.

Police and city officials did not immediately return telephone messages left Wednesday seeking comment.

Officials have said Mcmahon shot Foster after the 32-year-old attacked the officer with a flashlight during a “violent physical struggle” following a brief pursuit. Mcmahon opened fire after a stun gun proved ineffective in subduing Foster, officials said last month.

Foster was riding his bike Feb. 13 when he stopped to hang out with some friends, according to the complaint filed Tuesday.