Lawsuit filed against city, police chief by Frank Alvarado family members

The City of Salinas and the Police Department are being sued by Frank Alvarado’s father and son for the shooting that killed him last July.

According to the lawsuit, the parties are being sued for multiple reasons – violations of the Fourth Amendment, wrongful death, civil rights violations, as well as assault and battery, to name a few.

The family members are asking for specific damages and expenses and are demanding a jury trial.

The 39-year-old was killed in an officer involved shooting last year.

The Monterey County District Attorney’s office said police responded to a 911 call by his relatives who claimed he broke into his grandparents home and set part of it on fire with a butane torch.

After police arrived at the scene, officials say Alvarado ignored orders from police that were given to him in both English and Spanish. He lunged at the police with an object in his hand, which police believed to be a weapon. The object ended up being a cell phone. Alvarado was shot multiple times by police.

Alvarado had served 11 years in state prison for attempted murder and was on parole at the time, his mother told News Channel 5 that Alvarado had told her he did not want to go back to prison.

His case was the fourth officer involved shooting of 2014.

Alvarado complaint against Salinas Police