MIDDLETOWN – The mother of Lennord
Anthony Whittle, a 23-year-old Middletown man who was shot and killed
by two Middletown City police officers on November 19, 2013, has filed
a wrongful death civil lawsuit.
Biuyyanah Coke, Whittle’s mother, alleged that her son posed no
threat to police officers or the public when he was shot.
Officers Patricia Doremus and Frank Speranza had responded to a report
of a man with a knife at Sam’s Food Stores at 90 Academy Avenue.
Whittle, who court papers said was bipolar, had been taunted by another
individual when he pulled a knife on him.
When police arrived on the scene, they found Whittle outside with the
knife, but “was not wielding at or toward anyone, including the
officers,” the lawsuit claims.
The court papers, filed by civil rights attorney Michael Sussman, said,
“without any provocation, both defendants Speranza and Doremus began
firing at Decedent Whittle, hitting him with at least three bullets causing
him to drop to the ground.”
Without attending to his injuries, the lawsuit alleges the officers failed
to administer any medical aid to Whittle, but instead handcuffed him.
He died four hours after being shot.
The suit, which calls for a jury trial, alleges the officers deprived
Whittle of his right to be free from the use of excessive, unreasonable
and deadly force. It also alleges the City of Middletown failed to adequately
discipline and train officers concerning the rights of citizens.
In June 2014, a special Orange County grand jury cleared the officers
in the shooting death.
