PHILADELPHIA — A Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) officer is being accused of assaulting protestors at a protest following the death of George Floyd.
Hannah Bachism and Joseph Rupprecht filed a complaint May 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against SEPTA and Matthew Sinkiewicz alleging assault, civil rights violations and other claims.
The plaintiffs allege that they were participating in a peaceful protest and march on May 30, 2020, near the Multiple Services Building on Broad Street in Philadelphia after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They claim that they were attacked by Sinkiewicz, a SEPTA police officer, while they posed no threat and while officers were attempting to clear the protest area.
The plaintiffs allege Sinkiewicz struck them on their heads with a baton and caused Bachism to suffer a traumatic brain injury and Rupprecht to suffer a head wound. They further allege SEPTA police have a pattern of use of excessive force and has failed to train, supervise and discipline Sinkiewicz, who also has a history of unreasonable force against civilians which has been documented on social media videos. The plaintiffs also claim that Sinkiewicz's actions constitute assault and battery and despite his record, he was promoted by SEPTA to sergeant.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Jonathan Feinberg and Grace Harris of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:22-CV-02041