DEARBORN, Mich. – A wrongful death civil rights federal lawsuit against Dearborn and multiple officers with the Dearborn police department has been filed by the family of Salvatore Cipolloni.
Cipolloni’s last moments were played out at a Dearborn hotel in September of 2021.
He was in distress and decided to call for help, but when cops arrived, he was handcuffed and violently pinned to the ground.
“When somebody calls the police for help, they should get help, they shouldn’t wind up dead,” said Attorney Jon Marko.
Marko says the 38-year-old father of four was mistreated. Video evidence showed how an officer kneeled on Cipolloni’s neck, similar to how Geoge Floyd was killed.
Except in this case, no charges were ever filed against the cops involved. Now, a lawsuit has been filed.
“We filed a Wrongful death civil rights federal lawsuit against the city of Dearborn and two officers who were involved and responsible for the death of our client, Sal,” Marko said.
Loved ones can still feel the sting of Cipolloni’s death. Christina Howe is the mother of two of his children.
“It’s been devasting for our family and our children,” said Howe. “Just from the beginning to telling them their dad died, and now sometime later going through that grieving process.”
His daughter Payton misses him as well.
“My dad was a great guy, said Peyton Cipolloni. “He was very understanding. He was sentimental. He thought a lot about different ways he could do stuff for his children. He made me feel more loved than probably anybody in my life,”
“We’re going to dig in and hold those responsible within the Dearborn Police Department and make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Marko said.
Local 4 reached out to Dearborn, but the city is unable to comment at this time.