Wrongful death, excessive force lawsuit proceeds against City of Portland and PPB officer

On November 19, 2022, an attempted armed robbery was reported in southeast Portland, and city police were dispatched in response. Minutes later, Immanueal “Manny” Clark was dead.

According to an ongoing federal lawsuit, dispatchers made clear, based on reports to 911, that all perpetrators were white men. Despite this, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers pulled over a vehicle occupied by two Black men, one of whom was Clark, along with two white people. Police then engaged in a high-risk stop without properly asserting control of the situation, the lawsuit alleges. Clark, unarmed, ran from the scene.

PBB Officer Christopher Sathoff fired three shots at Clark with a rifle. One bullet hit the unarmed man in the back, knocking him to the ground and causing intense bleeding.

Police refused to allow emergency medical personnel to treat Clark for 26 minutes after he was shot, the lawsuit alleges. Clark died on the street, bleeding out in agony, as the bullet had lacerated numerous internal organs.

On March 7, 2024, representatives of the Clark estate filed the federal lawsuit against both Sathoff and the city, alleging excessive force and wrongful death. Both parties are currently in discovery and are proceeding toward a jury trial. The Clark family is represented by Levi Merrithew Horst PC, Albies & Stark, and the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Prosecutors had earlier brought the issue before a grand jury, but the jury ultimately declined to indict. A full transcript of the proceedings can be found here.

Clark’s mother holds a vigil for her son at 5 p.m. on the 19th day of every month in the parking lot of Reedwood Friends Church, 2901 SE Steele Street, near where Clark was killed.