The Honolulu City Council has approved a $150,000 settlement in a lawsuit that accused a police officer of improperly arresting a boy who had a personal dispute with his son.
The family’s federal lawsuit alleged that Officer Kirk Uemura had the teen arrested because the teen and the officer’s son were at odds and had fought after school in 2018.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and attorney Eric Seitz, which both represented the family, announced the settlement Tuesday.
Their lawsuit said Uemura was “motivated solely by a personal vengeance” in abusing his police power.
After the lawsuit was filed in October, police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said Uemura and his supervisor were disciplined, but she was unable to provide details.
Representatives for the police department and the city didn’t immediately comment on the settlement. Uemura couldn’t be reached for comment.
Seitz said in a news release that neither the officers nor the city admitted liability. During negotiations, attorneys for the family asked the city to reveal disciplinary actions taken against the officers, but the city refused, he said.
A 2020 legislative disciplinary report showed Uemura received a one-day suspension, Seitz said.
Topics Hawaii
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