The Region - News from May 17, 1985

Lt. Charles Higbie, who supervises the Police Department’s investigation of its officers when they are involved in fatal incidents, was accused in a $20-million federal lawsuit of conducting a cover-up in the death of a South Los Angeles man. Higbie could not be reached for comment, but a police spokesman said, “There is no foundation for that kind of accusation.” Attorney Stephen Yagman filed the suit on behalf of Goldie Dixon the day after a federal court jury awarded her $150,000 in general damages, finding Officer Carlton Bonner liable for the death of her son, Hugh Thaddeus Clark. Bonner is named as Higbie’s co-defendant in the new suit, which asks for $10 million in general damages and another $10 million in punitive damages.