Anthony Harden’s family files lawsuit calling for firing of district attorney, Quinn calls it ‘political ploy’
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The family of Anthony Harden, the man who died in a police involved shooting last year, filed a lawsuit on Thursday, calling for Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn to be fired.
The family said that Quinn manipulated facts in the investigations of Harden and Larry Ruiz-Barreto‘s deaths. They are also accusing Quinn of failing to disclose a conflict of interest, refusing to investigate a Fall River police officer who had been involved in criminal activity, and promoting and employing Karen O’Sullivan, who they say has a racist history.
Quinn’s investigation in December found that the shooting was justified.
“The uncontroverted evidence was that an officer was attacked by Anthony Harden with a knife. The officer’s partner was legally justified in using deadly force to save his life,” said Quinn.
Harden, 30, was shot and killed on Nov. 22 by an officer at his Melville Street home.
“Me and my family look forward to this matter being investigated by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,” said Eric Mack, Harden’s brother.
Quinn released the following statement, calling the lawsuit “frivolous” and a “political ploy.”
This is clearly an abuse of the legal system for political purposes. This individual has demonstrated time and again that he has a personal vendetta against me, my family and the staff at my office. His continuous filing of frivolous lawsuits are full of inaccurate and slanderous information that is obviously politically motivated. He has used the tragic death of his brother as a political ploy to support my opponent in the upcoming election. He not only works on my opponent’s behalf, but he and his family have also donated thousands of dollars to my opponent’s campaign. The shooting death of Anthony Harden was a tragedy. However, the facts are clear that the shooting was justified.
The 30-year-old was out on bail waiting trial for previous felony charges.
Quinn’s office said they are “happy to have the AG review the results of the investigation into Mr. Harden’s death.”
