Attorneys for the family of a man killed by a Camden County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop on I-95 filed suit in federal court in Brunswick.
Leonard Cure, 53, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years following a 2003 armed robbery conviction, was traveling on I-95 in October when Staff Sgt. Buck Aldridge conducted a traffic stop because of what authorities said was speeding and reckless driving.
The situation on the side of the interstate quickly escalated, as Aldridge yelled at Cure, and Cure was at times uncooperative. During this time, Aldridge fired his stun gun at Cure, who responded by appearing to try to remove the barbs by swatting at the stun gun wires. The two men subsequently got into a scuffle, during which Aldridge shot and killed Cure.
“Everything was going well for Leonard — things were going well until he had that encounter with this sheriff’s deputy,” Ben Crump, a noted civil rights attorney, said at a news conference in front of the Frank M. Scarlett Federal Building this week. Also involved in the suit are Atlanta attorney Harry Daniels and St. Simons Island attorney Mario Pacella.
The Cure family is seeking more than $17 million for what they consider Leonard’s wrongful death. It represents $1 million for every year he spent in prison, and in addition, the suit seeks more than $1 million in punitive damages, along with attorneys fees and any other costs the court deems appropriate. Aldridge is on leave while the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office weighs whether to file criminal charges.
“The scenery has changed — we normally, in this case dealing with Leonard Cure, would be in Camden County, but we’re in Brunswick today because there’s a saying, ‘Faith without works is dead,’” Daniels said. “Now, we are working. We filed a federal lawsuit against those responsible for the death of Leonard Allan Cure.”
Those sued, according to Daniels, are Aldridge and Proctor in their individual capacities, along with Proctor in his official capacity as sheriff.
Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor shouldn’t have hired Aldridge, the attorneys argue in the complaint, because of Aldridge’s history of excessive force, and dismissal because of it, while with the Kingsland Police Department.
“Buck Aldridge has a history of violence, a propensity for violence and an unlawful use of force while in uniform,” Daniels said.
“Sheriff Proctor is limited on comments that can be made concerning this lawsuit by the Cure family,” said Capt. Larry Bruce, public information officer for the sheriff’s office. “The GBI case file has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office, but no decision has been rendered currently. Since the case is an active investigation subject to review by the district attorney, no comment will be made during the litigation of this case.”
Cure family attorneys compiled an extensive overview of violent incidents involving Camden County deputies in recent years, events caught on camera, with what Daniels said was nothing done. It’s not about bad apples, Daniels said, it’s a bad orchard.
“Nothing’s happening to them, not until the NAACP or the county commissioners or the district attorney here in Brunswick gets involved, then all of a sudden the GBI gets involved, then a termination takes place,” Daniels said. “But, what that shows is a culture, and environment where it is allowed.”