A San Bernardino jury has awarded victims more than $100 million seven years after a firearm-brandishing state employee caused a fatal crash off the I-215.

The jury found the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation responsible for the actions of their correctional officer, Michael William Becker, who ran Glenn Bolden and D’Son Woods off the road on Aug. 1, 2018.

“What happened in this incident is that a CDCR officer on his way to work, in uniform, decided he did not look like the way my clients looked. And he engaged in a high speed chase on the highway, in which he waved his gun,” said plaintiff’s attorney Brian Ward of Trial Lawyers for Justice.

“I think this (verdict) is a real victory for the system. I think the system really shows how well it works, in this case,” Ward said.

CDCR did not respond to a request for comment. In the request, IE Law asked whether Becker was fired or terminated. Ward said Becker voluntarily left his job. Becker stayed at the CDCR until November 2018, according to a Jan. 9, 2024 appellate ruling. His supervisor knew about the collision, but did not discuss it with Becker or initiate an investigation. The supervisor said he did not take part in a decision to keep Becker or let him go.

The appellate ruling overturned San Bernardino County Superior Judge Bryan Fosters’ grant of summary judgment. Foster had ruled that Becker could not have been acting within the course of his employment as a correctional officer with the CDCR. That question should be left to the jury, the justices ruled.

The San Bernardino District Attorney’s Office charged Becker with misdemeanor reckless driving, two felony counts of drawing a firearm in a car and felony reckless driving. Becker pleaded guilty May 17, 2019, to felony reckless driving and was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and three years of probation. The DA’s Office has not yet responded to our request for comment.

Becker started his commute from Yucaipa to the California Institution for Men, in Chino, around 3 a.m., according to a Jan. 9, 2024, appellate ruling in the case. He wore his CDCR-issued shirt with badge and name tag, but covered it with a jacket. He carried a personal .40 caliber Glock , which he was legally authorized to carry as a peace officer.

At 3:11, he stopped to get gas at the AM/PM near the I-10 onramp in Yucaipa. Woods and Bolden stopped at the same station, to purchase cigarettes.

Becker later told a police officer that at the AM/PM he saw a Black man who “looked suspicious.” At his deposition, Becker could not say why he thought Woods looked suspicious.

Becker said that Woods “shouted several derogatory comments before leaving the gas station.” Both cars got on the I-10 headed west

CDCR summary judgment papers say Becker followed Woods and Bolden to get identifying information, because they damaged his car. Bolden denied damaging Becker’s car.

Becker pulled alongside Woods and Bolden, turned on his interior lights, and pointed his gun at them, Bolden said. Becker passed their car, slammed on the brakes, then increased speed to be level with them again. Woods sped up, in an attempt to get away. Woods’ Lexus hit 100 miles an hour, while Becker’s Nissan Altima got up to 120 miles an hour.

Becker deviated from his work commute to follow them onto the I-215 South. He testified he did so to get their license plate number. Becker said his actions might have been a “work thing that kicked in,” and that he “was not going to let a bad guy get away.”

While moving from the I-10 to I-215, Woods’ car left the highway, hit a light pole, rolled and hit a tree.

The crash caused Woods to spend 18 months fighting for—and losing—his life, Ward said. The Lexus caught on fire, with him in it. First responders extracted him—then revived him after he died. He suffered from a spinal fracture, burns across 30% of his body and a dead right leg. He was treated at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where a doctor’s attempt to perform spinal surgery failed from complications with his organs. He got 17 stitches in his head, and spent eighteen months experiencing skin grafts, gangrene and two amputations—first his foot, then his leg under his knee. He died in March 2020.

“I’ve never seen such a sad state of affairs in my career,” said Ward.

Bolden, who survived, said he remembers only the beginning of the chase. He remembers Becker brandishing his gun. Then he remembers sitting on the side of the road, watching the car burning with his friend inside. He does not know how he got out of the car, Ward said.

The verdict validated Gwendolyn Adams, Woods’ mother, who heard a rumor in the hospital that Woods was a “bad guy” chased by an officer. The rumor devalued Woods’ worth and life, Ward said. 

“To have the jury return a verdict for this much, I think, means the world. It means the community cares about her son, and the community values him,” Ward said.

The complaint brought claims of assault and battery, violation of the Bane Act, deprivation of familial relationships, wrongful death and three claims of negligence.

The verdict awarded Bolden $15 million and Adams $90 million.

San Bernardino Superior Judge Wilfred Schneider presided. 

Attorneys Erin Powers of Trial Lawyers for Justice, and Doug Shaffer and Daniel Stefanic of Adamson Ahdoot, worked on the case with Ward.

Deputy Attorney General Truman Phan-Quand defended.

Case No. CIVDS1831184

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