Standing in their own yard, Rancho Cordova cops beat and arrested black brothers, suit says

Carlos Williams was showing his twin brother a water drain he had installed outside his new home in Rancho Cordova last March when a couple walked over and asked, “What the f--- are you doing on this property?” then accused them of being burglars.

Within minutes, someone called 911 to report a burglary, and Rancho Cordova police responded to the scene with guns drawn and demands that the brothers “get your f------ hands up.”

The scene is described in a pair of lawsuits filed in federal court in Sacramento against Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County and the officers involved, alleging the brothers were beaten, choked, handcuffed and arrested, then taken to jail.

And, the suits suggest that the incident was sparked by the fact that Williams and his brother, Thomas, are black.

During the confrontation, Thomas Williams’ lawsuit says, officers searched both brothers and retrieved Carlos Williams’ wallet and driver’s license, “which listed his current address and made it plainly obvious to the arresting officers that Carlos was not burglarizing his own home.”

“Carols confirmed yet again to arresting officers he lived at the dispatched address,” the lawsuit says. “Further, a neighbor, Oracio Galvan, also confirmed to officers that Carlos lived in the home.”

Despite that, the men were taken into custody, Thomas Williams on a charge of felony assault and Carlos Williams on a charge of resisting arrest. Prosecutors later declined to file charges.

A Rancho Cordova spokeswoman referred queries about the lawsuits to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the agency that operates the Rancho Cordova Police Department under contract with the city. The Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on pending litigation.

But the lawsuits contend the incident stems, at least in part, from the fact that neighbors saw two black men standing outside the house the night of March 23, 2019, and called police.

“This is a case of police brutality,” says Thomas Williams’ lawsuit, which noted that he is an educator, entrepreneur and founder of a school for children with disabilities. “Sacramento County and Rancho Cordova violated Dr. Thomas Williams’ constitutional rights and California civil rights when they arrested two African American brothers outside of their own home purportedly on suspicion of burglary.

“The police officers arrived at the scene and immediately drew their guns, screamed profanities at the brothers, placed one brother in a chokehold, and beat them both into unconsciousness. The brothers attempted to convince the officers that they were residents, but the officers did not care.”

Since the incident, one lawsuit states, sheriff’s and police employees “have engaged in a coordinated intimidation campaign, involving unmarked cars repeatedly circling Carlos’ home, spotlights shining brightly into Carlos’ home at night, and frequent flat tires to Carlos’ vehicle.”

The suits allege excessive force, false arrest and other claims.