Aasylei Loggervale and her two teenage daughters had been driving all night to California’s Berkeley City College for the older daughter to take an exam. They made an early morning stop in Castro Valley, Ca., where Loggervale was confronted by a deputy from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Captured on body-camera footage, the deputy, Steven Holland, told Loggervale that he was investigating car break-ins in the area. When he asked to see Loggervale’s identification, she refused, saying she hadn’t done anything wrong and asking why she was being questioned. Officers handcuffed all three family members and held them in a patrol car without citing them for a crime. Last week, a jury awarded the Loggervales $8.25 million in damages, concluding a years-long lawsuit against Alameda County, Holland and another deputy, reports the Washington Post. Craig Peters, an attorney representing the Loggervales, said the sum was increased by a California law, the Bane Act, that allows juries to quadruple damages awarded in cases involving a violation of constitutional rights. “They’re a rather private family,” Peters said. “But they felt that what had happened was really wrong, and so they were willing to file the lawsuit and try to hold the sheriff’s office accountable.”
The parking lot confrontation derailed what should have been a celebratory week for the Loggervales. The family had planned a road trip, stopping first in the Bay Area to allow Loggervale’s older daughter, then 19, to complete her exam before traveling to the San Diego area to celebrate her younger daughter’s 18th birthday at Legoland. When the deputy asked to see Loggervale’s ID, Loggervale told her daughter to start recording Holland on her phone. “I got to have protection,” Loggervale said. “Because I don’t know where this is about to go.” Loggervale continued to protest that she had done nothing wrong, and Holland continued to ask for her ID. Loggervale asked Holland to call a supervisor, but he refused. Loggervale attempted to call 911 on the deputy. One daughters left the car to use the restroom, prompting Holland to stop her. “Okay, everyone in this car is detained,” Holland said. “You can go back in the car and wait, or you can go in handcuffs and go in my car.” Holland opened Loggervale’s door and grabbed her arm while ordering her out of the car. Loggervale complied and told her daughters to stay calm. Officers searched Loggervale’s car before eventually releasing the family.