Lawsuit against San Bernardino police has been officially filed by Erin Cowser following a violent arrest in 2025. The now 18-year-old woman alleges that officers used excessive force while she was still a minor. Her legal team announced the complaint against the city and two specific individuals on Friday. The incident occurred on May 21, 2025, during a response to a grocery store disturbance. Video evidence appears to show an officer throwing the teenager onto the concrete. Cowser was 17 years old when the encounter took place. The legal action seeks accountability for the physical and emotional trauma caused. Details of the case are now being reviewed by the public as the Baltimore Chronicle via NBC.
Excessive force allegations and the San Bernardino police department
The incident began when police responded to reports of a fight at a Food 4 Less. Erin Cowser was inside the store with her friends when a confrontation started with another group. According to the lawsuit, Officer Jackson Tubbs approached the girl as she was leaving the premises. He reportedly grabbed her backpack and pulled her toward a patrol vehicle. The situation escalated rapidly without any verbal warning or clear provocation from the teen. Tubbs is accused of throwing Cowser to the ground with extreme force.
Details of the alleged police misconduct:
- Officer Jackson Tubbs: accused of the physical “hip toss” maneuver.
- Officer Cynthia Guillen: present at the scene with an active body camera.
- San Bernardino Police Department: facing claims of systemic training failures.
- Concrete impact: the victim landed face-first while her hands were cuffed.
- Medical injuries: Cowser suffered significant facial lacerations and loss of consciousness.
Legal representatives emphasize that the victim was unable to protect herself during the fall. Since her hands were already restrained, she could not break the impact on the hard pavement. This specific detail highlights the severity of the police brutality claims within the formal complaint. The defense team argues that the use of such a maneuver was entirely unnecessary.
Video evidence and the timeline of the 2025 arrest
Digital recordings played a crucial role in bringing this case to the federal court system. Cellphone video from bystanders and police body cameras captured the entire sequence of events. Attorneys state that the footage contradicts the initial reports provided by the officers involved. While Tubbs allegedly claimed Cowser fell or was hurt by other teens, video says otherwise. The footage shows her face was clean and uninjured before the police intervention began.
Timeline of events on May 21, 2025:
| Time | Event Description | Participants |
| Afternoon | Report of a fight at Food 4 Less | Dispatch and Officers |
| 17:00 | Erin Cowser exits the grocery store | Erin Cowser |
| 17:02 | Initial contact and backpack grab | Officer Jackson Tubbs |
| 17:03 | The “hip toss” onto the concrete | Tubbs and Cowser |
| 17:05 | Victim regains consciousness in patrol car | Cowser and Officers |
The victim recalls waking up in the back of a police car while on the freeway. She noticed a large amount of blood on her body and her chin was leaking. When she asked what happened, the officer allegedly replied that she simply fell down. Cowser then lost consciousness again due to the severity of her head injury. These traumatic memories form the core of the emotional distress claim in the lawsuit.
Seeking justice and the city’s legal response to the complaint
Erin Cowser is now 18 and determined to hold the San Bernardino Police Department accountable. Her lawyers have not yet specified the exact dollar amount for the damages. However, the suit covers medical expenses, pain, suffering, and the violation of civil rights. This case has sparked renewed discussions about how law enforcement interacts with minors. The city has remained silent regarding the specific allegations since the filing.
Both the city and the police department declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. This is standard procedure for high-profile cases involving potential civil rights violations. The community continues to monitor the progress of the lawsuit closely. Public trust in local law enforcement often depends on the transparency of such investigations. Cowser’s team plans to use the video evidence as the primary tool in court. They believe the visual proof is undeniable and shows a clear abuse of power.
The outcome of this case could influence future police training protocols in California. Ensuring that officers use de-escalation techniques instead of violence is a major goal for the plaintiffs. Many legal experts are watching to see if a settlement will be reached. Regardless of the final sum, the focus remains on the safety of young citizens.
Earlier we wrote about Netflix AI VOID technology: revolutionary neural network for seamless video object removal
