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Commemorating 9/11 victims/ P. 8/10
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Mesa pays $5.4M to settle 10 claims against cops BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer
NEWS................... 16 Videographer in trouble for filming Mesa cops.
BUSINESS............ 24 Mesa architect revamps historic local church.
SPORTS................ 31 Nikita McCrimon a Swiss army knife for Westwood COMMUNITY .............................. 21 BUSINESS ................................... 24 OPINION ..................................... 28 SPORTS ...................................... 31 GET OUT ...................................... 32 CLASSIFIED ............................... 33 ZONE 2
Sunday, October 16, 2022
T
he City of Mesa settled 10 police excessive force, assault and wrongful death claims involving the Mesa Police Department in the first six months of 2022 with payouts totaling $5,444,000. Records obtained by the Tribune through a public records request show the payments ranged from $4,000 to
$2.45 million and stem from incidents that occurred between 2017 and 2020. Several of the settlements involve high profile cases that drew public attention to Mesa PD over the past five years. The settlements release the city and the officers involved from any liabilities or future payments to the plaintiffs, who filed suits in local and federal courts. All the settlements contain language stating that the city denies wrongdoing, and include the statement that “Plaintiff
acknowledges this payment is a settlement and compromise of a disputed claim and that the Released Parties deny wrongdoing and liability,” or similar disclaimers. Asked if the size of settlements so far this year are typical, Mesa Director of Communications Ana Pereria said, “Many different factors drive the annual amount spent on settlement of claims
see CLAIMS page 15
Mesa woman celebrates 100 years of patient living
BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer
B
etty Caruthers has all her teeth and most of her patience, except when scammers call. And on Wednesday, Oct. 19, the Mesa woman will also have bragging rights on a claim few people get to make: She will be 100 years old. Caruthers will celebrate the milestone with her two children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Though not a Mesa native, Caruthers said she spent 23 years as an instructional aide at Mesa Junior High – a lifelong dream but one in a line of many jobs she’s
see CARUTHERS page 6
Mesa resident Betty Caruthers marks her centennial birthday Wednesday. (David Minton/Tribune)
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