San Gabriel Valley : Settlement OKd in Wrongful Death Suit

The cities of Pasadena and San Marino have approved a $1.5-million settlement with the family of Michael James Bryant, who died in police custody after police hogtied him and placed him face-down in the back of a squad car.

Bryant’s family filed a wrongful-death suit against both cities and the city of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles City Council has not yet given final approval to the settlement, in which the $1.5-million payment will be split between the municipalities.

Bryant, a 37-year-old Pasadena barber, died March 9, 1993, after leading police officers on a chase that started in San Marino, zigzagged through Pasadena and ended at a Highland Park apartment complex. Bryant was being pursued by officers from all three departments after he fled a San Marino officer who suspected that Bryant was intoxicated.

In his arrest, Bryant was hogtied and placed face-down in the back of a squad car, in violation of a recent policy enacted by the Los Angeles Police Department. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office determined that he died of asphyxiation and cocaine intoxication.

San Marino will pay $450,000 through its liability insurance pool, and Pasadena will pay $240,000 from self-insurance reserves. The city of Los Angeles will pay the remainder of the settlement if it is approved.

None of the defendants admitted liability, but officials in San Marino and Pasadena said they feared a costly trial.

Shortly after the incident, Pasadena stopped using the cord-cuff restraint, in which officers tie suspects’ ankles to their wrists. San Marino has never used the devices, said Mayor Bernard Le Sage.

Officials from both cities said that it was the LAPD that was in charge at the time of the arrest, even though Bryant was placed in a San Marino squad car.

“We learn from these things,” Newberry said. “We don’t use the cord-cuff anymore, even though it wasn’t ours in this case.” . . .