Couple blames school, officer for son's injuries

A Harris County couple has sued on behalf of their child against a police officer and a school district.

Guadalupe and Cesar R. Suquet of South Houston filed individually and as next friends of their minor child, age 16, on Feb. 4 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against officer Michael Y’Barbo and the Pasadena Independent School District of Pasadena, alleging excessive use of force.

According to the complaint, at South Houston High School, on May 29, 2014, their son was a victim of police beating that was recorded on video and witnessed by school employees. Y’Barbo struck their child on the arm, legs, neck and head numerous times, the suit states.

Apart from physical injuries and distress, the suit states, a “culture of silence” discouraged others from coming to the boy’s assistance during the incident.

The Suquets seek up to $1 million in compensation for unreasonable seizure and excessive force against their child, recovery of attorney fees, expenses and costs. They are represented by attorney Mark Montgomery of Mark A. Montgomery Law Firm in Houston.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case 4:15-CV-00315.