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Black man arrested by Boston Police during stroke to receive $1.3 million

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Al Copeland, a Black man who was arrested while suffering from a stroke in his vehicle was awarded a $1.3 million settlement after being wrongfully accused of being drunk, back in 2019.

According to records, Copeland was driving on Mass Ave and began to feel nauseous. He decided to park at the Berklee School of Music, where he sat in his vehicle unconscious for almost two hours. Two Boston police officers found Copeland and arrested him, claiming the now 62-year-old smelled like alcohol.

However, what officers did not know was that Copeland had been practicing sobriety for 20 years and was actually suffering a stroke. When he was taken to the police station, Copeland reportedly struggled to stand and subsequently ended up falling and hitting his head before throwing up. Copeland was taken to Tufts Medical Center where medical professionals also thought he was drunk.

After several hours in the emergency room, doctors determined Copeland was suffering from a stroke which ruled out the cops’ accusations of the 62-year-old being drunk. The stroke resulted in Copeland behind hospitalized for weeks which was followed by him being unable to complete certain daily tasks and ultimately resulted in him having to resign from his job at the MBTA.

The City of Boston launched an internal investigation after being contacted by Copeland’s lawyer, George Leontire. However, the officers weren’t cited for treating Al like he was drunk, but for being negligent in their lack of response when he hit his head on the cell wall.

Copeland received a $1.3 million settlement, but neither the officers nor the City of Boston has been charged in the incident; they quietly dealt with it and dismiss the event.

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