Delores Stringer v. City of San Pablo, et al.

"San Pablo police used reasonable force when they shot and killed a 35-year-old man who grabbed for an officer's gun during a street fight in 2006, according to a verdict reached by a federal jury this week.

The mother of Melvin Deshawn Hardnett, Delores Stringer, sued the police department for $10 million in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The suit alleged that the two officers involved in her son's death used excessive force and acted maliciously without just provocation. The jury reached its verdict in favor of the police on Wednesday.

Hardnett was shot dead May 29, 2006, after he led police on a car chase, fled from the vehicle and then struggled with two officers as he was apprehended. Several men watching the struggle threw rocks at the officers and shouted for Hardnett to kill them. Police said Hardnett had partially pulled one officer's gun from his holster, prompting the second officer to fire.

Hardnett died at the scene. Autopsy results showed he had cocaine in his system."

Source: Contra Costa Times

See: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14248214

Defendants' verdict.