Police training expert Emanuel Kapelsohn testified Tuesday, Feb. 2, in court that Palm Beach County Sgt. Adams Lin's shooting of Dontrell Stephens was justified. The ongoing trial was for the case filed by Stephens against Lin and the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office over civil rights violation.
The incident happened in suburban West Palm Beach in September 2013. Stephens was biking in the area when Lin stopped the then 20-year-old citizen to question why he was in the area, Palm Beach Post reported. A chase ensued where Lin was able to hold Stephens. However, Lin shot Stephens three times after the latter pulled out what appeared to be a black mobile phone, which Lin claimed what he thought was a gun.
At the latest hearing, Kapelsohn explained that the deputy acted as a trained officer as the object held by Stephens might be a gun, and therefore the officer fired shots to defend himself, ABC News reported Feb. 2, citing The Associated Press.
"If you wait for a muzzle flash, that might be the last thing you see," Kapelsohn was cited as saying. He owns a weapons training firm, which received more than $30,000 from the county for his examination of the case and for testifying in court.
As per footages found on a camera recorded in Lin's patrol car dashboard, Stephens was holding a black mobile phone and not any deadly weapon. Previously, Lin said in court that he might have not been able to recognize the object as a mobile phone, as he was driving and not focused on the monitor, the Bristol Herald Courier reported.
Stephens' lawsuit is seeking over $5 million from the Sheriff's Office to pay for his medical treatment and therapy. The three shots fired in his body caused serious motor conditions, reports said. Kapelsohn's latest testimony was in defense of statements given by Melvin L. Tucker, who testified in court for Stephens. Tucker, former Tallahassee police chief, testified that Lin had no reason to shoot, and that he violated law enforcement procedures when he did.
