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Warren Police Lawsuit: Mental Health Crisis and Excessive Force

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Warren Police Lawsuit: Mental Health Crisis

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Warren Police Face Lawsuit Over Excessive Force

A significant lawsuit has been filed against the city of Warren, Michigan, and several of its police officers. This legal action alleges excessive force, a failure to provide necessary medical care, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the case of Christopher Gibson, a Black man who was experiencing a severe mental health crisis (atlantablackstar.com). The ADA is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, ensuring they have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. This includes protections for people with mental health disabilities, meaning law enforcement agencies are expected to make reasonable accommodations and avoid discriminatory practices when interacting with them.

The incident began when Christopher Gibson's mother contacted the police for help, clearly informing them that her son, then 24 years old, had schizophrenia and needed to be transported to a mental health facility (atlantablackstar.com). Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. A mental health crisis, in this context, refers to a period of intense emotional or behavioral distress that significantly impairs a person's ability to function. Despite being explicitly told of Gibson's mental health condition, Warren police transported him to jail after discovering outstanding warrants for identity theft (atlantablackstar.com). Once in a jail cell, officers allegedly pepper-sprayed, tasered, and beat Gibson when he resisted being handcuffed for transport to another jail (atlantablackstar.com). The ACLU of Michigan filed the lawsuit on August 13, asserting that Gibson required “compassion and treatment” rather than violence (atlantablackstar.com).

Warren Police Misconduct Allegations

The incident involving Christopher Gibson brings to light a troubling pattern of alleged excessive force and mistreatment by Warren police officers, especially concerning individuals experiencing mental health issues. During his detention, an officer reportedly told Gibson, who was trying to explain his severe stress, “You picked the wrong city to be going through in it” (atlantablackstar.com). When Gibson stated he was “mental” and having issues due to his mental illness, an officer responded, “You’re mental, that’s fine. You can still follow directions” (atlantablackstar.com). These statements highlight a concerning lack of understanding and empathy from the officers involved.

After Gibson bit an officer, multiple officers allegedly “planted their body weight on him,” forced his face into the floor, and tasered him, leading to his cries of “They’re killing me, literally” (atlantablackstar.com). Body camera video reportedly shows officers continuing to abuse Gibson while en route to Macomb County Jail, including one officer body-slamming him onto the asphalt while he was handcuffed (atlantablackstar.com). The use of pepper spray involves an irritant chemical agent, tasers deliver an electric shock, and body-slamming involves forcefully throwing someone to the ground. These are all forms of physical force that can cause significant injury, and their use is typically governed by strict departmental policies and legal standards, which the lawsuit alleges were violated in this case.

Christopher Gibson's Injuries and Trauma

Christopher Gibson sustained severe injuries and profound psychological trauma as a direct result of the alleged abuse by Warren police. His injuries were so severe that he had to be transported to a hospital instead of jail (atlantablackstar.com). Hospital staff inquired about Gibson's kidney or heart problems, as these organs had been “extremely damaged” with internal bleeding (atlantablackstar.com). He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a serious medical condition resulting from the breakdown of muscle tissue, which releases harmful proteins into the blood that can damage the kidneys and heart (atlantablackstar.com). This condition often occurs due to extreme physical exertion, trauma, or prolonged pressure on the body, consistent with the alleged actions of the officers.

Christopher Gibson's mother, Alwanda Gibson, stated that her son now suffers from severe post-traumatic stress syndrome (atlantablackstar.com). He is afraid to sit on the porch and fears seeing police officers (atlantablackstar.com). Christopher Gibson himself expressed feeling “lucky to still be alive” and hopes his story will prevent similar cruelty and abuse for others with mental illnesses (atlantablackstar.com). The lawsuit also alleges violations of Gibson's Fourteenth Amendment rights, which include protections for due process and equal protection under the law, ensuring that states cannot deprive individuals of life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures.

Understanding Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis: This is a serious medical condition where damaged muscle fibers release their contents into the bloodstream. These substances can harm the kidneys, leading to kidney failure. It is often caused by severe muscle injury, such as from trauma, extreme physical exertion, or prolonged pressure on the body. Christopher Gibson was diagnosed with this condition after his encounter with Warren police, indicating significant physical trauma.

History of Warren Police Force

The lawsuit against Warren police cites a history of alleged physical abuse by officers against arrestees, suggesting that Christopher Gibson's experience is not an isolated incident. In 2023, a Warren police officer allegedly struck an arrestee multiple times and slammed his head against the floor during fingerprinting and photographing (atlantablackstar.com). Furthermore, a $50 million lawsuit was filed in June 2023 after a Warren police officer assaulted a suspect during booking, even though the police commissioner claimed the suspect sustained no injuries (fox2detroit.com).

A former Warren police officer faced federal charges in July 2023 in connection with assaulting an inmate, with the police commissioner stating the actions were “completely unjustified and unprofessional” (cbsnews.com). In 2022, six Warren police officers reportedly repeatedly punched and kicked a 17-year-old (atlantablackstar.com). Additionally, in 2021, four Warren police officers allegedly participated in the beating of a 16-year-old accused of stealing a catalytic converter, rendering the youth unconscious (atlantablackstar.com). These incidents paint a concerning picture of the department's conduct and raise questions about its policies and training regarding the use of force.

Other Excessive Force Incidents

Other recent incidents involving alleged excessive force by police officers in similar contexts have drawn public attention and legal action. In March 2025, a lawsuit was filed against Warren County Jail alleging assault and excessive force against inmate Bradley Easley, with video footage reportedly showing deputies attempting to restrain him and one deputy using excessive force (wbko.com). In February 2025, an independent police auditor challenged the Akron Police Department's approval of an officer's punches to a man's face, where Officer Warren Sprague IV allegedly punched Terrell Battles four times, breaking his nose and hospitalizing him (signalakron.org). In April 2024, Warren police officers shot and killed a man in an incident that occurred in less than 7 seconds, after he allegedly confronted them with a handgun and pursued them (freep.com). These cases underscore a broader issue of police use of force and its impact on individuals, particularly those in vulnerable situations.

Mental Health Response Alternatives

The lawsuit emphasizes that Christopher Gibson needed “compassion and treatment” rather than force, which raises important questions about alternative mental health crisis interventions. These alternatives often involve non-police response teams, community mental health centers, and a public health model of mental health care. These approaches aim to de-escalate situations, provide appropriate care, and prevent crises through community-based support, rather than relying on law enforcement, which can lead to the use of force.

Some cities have implemented non-police crisis response programs, such as those in Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and New York City, as part of a “Treatment Not Trauma” (TNT) policy (time.com). The “Treatment Not Trauma” model emphasizes a public health approach to mental health, recognizing that crisis response is most effective when integrated with prevention systems based on strong community ties (time.com). This model involves hiring, training, and compensating nonprofessional mental health workers from within communities to collaborate with professional mental health providers (time.com). Studies have indicated that while Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) are intended to de-escalate confrontations with individuals experiencing mental illness, their effectiveness is mixed, and there is a systemic issue in rerouting mental health calls away from law enforcement to mental health care (jaapl.org).

Police Training and Policy

While the specific training of Warren police officers is not detailed, many police departments across the U.S. have implemented mental health de-escalation training, such as Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs). However, the effectiveness of these programs in preventing the use of force, particularly against individuals in mental health crises, is a subject of ongoing discussion and concern, with some studies suggesting limitations in their implementation and impact. Most patrol officers in Eagle County have received mental health de-escalation training from CIT International, and police are trained to verbally de-escalate situations before resorting to force (pulitzercenter.org).

Despite the implementation of Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) by some police forces to address interactions with individuals with mental illness, data on their effectiveness is mixed (jaapl.org). Some studies suggest that most CITs consist of insufficiently trained law enforcement officers and that there is a systemic failure to reroute mental health calls away from law enforcement and into mental health care (jaapl.org). Research indicates that people with serious mental illness have a higher chance of experiencing police use of force (gothamist.com). This highlights the critical need for comprehensive training and policy changes that prioritize de-escalation and mental health support over punitive measures.

Role of Mental Health Professionals

The lawsuit and commentary suggest a clear need for mental health experts in crisis response. Integrating mental health professionals into crisis response typically involves non-police teams, co-responder models where mental health clinicians accompany law enforcement, or entirely civilian-led crisis intervention units. These models aim to provide immediate mental health support, de-escalate situations without force, and connect individuals to appropriate care, drawing on successful implementations in various cities.

In Eagle County, police are automatically dispatched first for mental health-related calls but can call for assistance from a Your Hope Center clinician while en route or after assessing the scene (pulitzercenter.org). The “Treatment Not Trauma” model proposes a transformative approach to mental health delivery led by community care workers, working in collaboration with professional mental health workers (time.com). This model aims to build on non-police crisis response programs that have been successfully implemented in cities like Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and New York City (time.com). There is a recognized systemic failure to reroute mental health calls away from law enforcement and into mental health care, highlighting the urgent need for better integration of mental health professionals (jaapl.org).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.