Family of Altadena Man Fatally Shot by Deputies Agrees to $5.25 Million Settlement

The family of an Altadena man shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies in Altadena have agreed to a $5.25 million settlement. 

Deputies claimed they were forced to shoot Charles Robert Towns on Jan. 22, 2023 in Altadena after he stabbed an elderly woman in the face with scissors, and attempted to stab another person when deputies intervened, according to a previous story by City News Service.  

Deputy Eliezer Morales opened fire and Towns fell to the ground, but he “got up, and advanced toward deputy personnel as the shooting continued,” the report alleges.

A second Deputy Clarissa Prentice allegedly shot Towns with gunfire that “penetrated Mr. Towns’ abdomen area from top to bottom, traveled just underneath his skin and exited his groin. 

In a lawsuit filed later, Towns’ family contended that the deputies shot Towns “although his empty hands were clearly visible on both body-cam footages. Both deputies executed him.”

A press conference is scheduled in Santa Monica on Thursday to discuss the settlement. 

Nine months after that incident, family members filed a second lawsuit against the Pasadena Police Department about a second incident after several family members were handcuffed during a verbal altercation on Walnut Street and Marengo Avenue near the Pasadena police headquarters.

According to that lawsuit, after an officer made contact with the plaintiffs another police officer arrived at the scene and allegedly violently “face planted” Carlos Towns in a flower planter and handcuffed him.

Towns’ mother, Barsha Knox, was handcuffed by a female police officer, according to the lawsuit.

Carlos Towns, Knox and a minor identified as CT2 are listed as plaintiffs in the second lawsuit. 

The lawsuit lists The City, Police Chief Eugene Harris, Lt. Chris Kirby, Palacios and Sgt. Blanchard, who is not identified by first name as defendants in the lawsuit.