KHSU has obtained a copy of the civil claim filed Friday with the city of Arcata by civil rights attorney Shelley Mack.
The claim asks for $500,000 damages for Charmaine Lawson in the death of her son, David Josiah Lawson, who was stabbed to death on April 15, 2017.
Arcata police say the investigation is still active, but the claim filed Friday alleges the APD has failed to actively pursue the investigation.
Although the claim is public record, KHSU has excerpted below 13 relevant portions of the claim that do not reveal the identity of HSU students and other young people who have expressed fear for their safety.
The first two of the 13 excerpted claims allege APD failed from the first moments of the investigation.
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There are also numerous allegations that APD has failed to follow up on forensic evidence that might have helped solve the homicide.
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The claim also alleges that despite APD agreeing to have former FBI special agent Tom Parker consult on the case, local investigators failed to follow his recommendations.
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Similarly, there are allegations APD refused help from other local law enforcement agencies.
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Finally, the claim alleges the city refused Ms. Lawson access to information about her son's death, and raises the question of whether Kyle Zoellner's father works for the city of Arcata. "Upon information and belief" means the claimant has no direct personal knowledge, but has reason to believe the claim is true.
