A group of homeless people and their advocates filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the city of Los Angeles and police alleging the wrongful seizure of people’s property.
Plaintiffs include four homeless individuals who say their constitutional rights were violated when city employees allegedly took their belongings without due process or notice. They’re seeking damages and a stop to the practice.
One of the individuals, Carl Mitchell said he had been falsely arrested for stealing a shopping cart. When he was released from jail, he was not able to get back his backpack containing medications and medical appointment papers, according to the suit. Another plaintiff Michael Escobedo said he had stepped away from his tent for coffee when city employees started a street clean-up. The suit said upon his return he was allowed to retrieve some of his things, but the tent got thrown away.