The family of a Jersey City man killed by city police last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, Hudson County, and a local hospital, claiming the defendants’ failure to follow standard law enforcement de-escalation techniques during the man’s mental health crisis led to his death and violated his civil rights.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning, comes one year after police shot and killed Andrew “Drew” Washington at his home, where they were dispatched when his family members say they called a hotline seeking mental health professionals to help him.
The plaintiff, Courtnie Washington, Andrew’s sister and the administrator of his estate, alleges that her brother’s death could have been avoided and is seeking unspecified damages. She claims that established state and federal law enforcement guidelines for dealing with individuals with mental health conditions were not followed by Jersey City police officers, and also alleges that medical health professionals failed to show adequate care with Washington.