Euclid Settles Lawsuit Over 2017 Traffic Stop That Turned Violent

The City of Euclid has agreed to a settlement in a federal lawsuit over the 2017 arrest of Richard Hubbard.

According to Hubbard’s attorney, Christopher McNeal, the $450,000 settlement with Euclid officers Michael Amiott, Matt Gilmer and Kirk Pavkov and the city of Euclid provides some closure for Hubbard and Yolimar Tirado, who was with Hubbard during the arrest.

“I hope this settlement will set a precedent not just in this community but across the nation that Black life is valuable,” McNeal said during a Thursday press conference announcing the settlement. “While money can’t change anything that happened here, I hope this settlement will help them to live a more comfortable life and find a new normal.”

Amiott and Gilmer pulled over Hubbard and Tirado on the morning of August 12, 2017, for a minor traffic violation. Amiott ordered Hubbard out of the car and then the encounter turned violent.

The incident garnered national attention when a video was released of Amiott wrestling Hubbard to the ground, Gilmer tasing him and then Amiott crouching over Hubbard in the middle of the street, punching him repeatedly in the head.

“One of the things I just wanted to emphasize is how lucky we all are that the stop did not result in another death of a young Black man,” Paul Cristallo, co-counsel for Hubbard and Tirado said. “I don’t want any of us to lose sight of how this could have ended, and how it ends again and again across this country.”

Amiott was eventually fired by Euclid police but then reinstated to his job by an arbitrator. He still faces misdemeanor assault and interfering with civil rights charges in Euclid Municipal Court.

“I wasn’t even expecting to get nothing,” Hubbard said, expressing surprise that Amiott was reinstated. “To get that money and then keep that officer around, it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars. It’s crazy.”

The city of Euclid did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement.