Goodyear police sued for killing disabled Army vet attempting suicide

Two years ago, Daniel Romero was at work when he checked his in-home security camera and saw his brother, Adam, stabbing himself with a kitchen knife. A call to 911 summoned the Goodyear Police Department.

But instead of helping Adam Romero, a Goodyear officer shot him three times, killing him.

That’s according to a civil rights lawsuit filed Nov. 12 — exactly two years after Adam Romero’s death — by the Romeros' mother, Linda Figueroa. The lawsuit claims that former Goodyear Police Chief Santiago Rodriguez and officers Matthew Pitcher and Justin Antholt violated Romero’s civil rights.

“Goodyear Police Officers were called to help Adam,” the suit says, “and instead they killed him.”

Kristen Wong, the attorney representing Figueroa, declined to comment to Phoenix New Times. Goodyear spokesperson Jordan Byrd said, “We have not received a claim nor are we familiar with this matter.” The online docket for the case suggests that the city and the officers have not yet been served with the lawsuit.

The lawsuit concerns the events of Nov. 12, 2022. At 5:33 p.m. that evening, the suit says, Daniel Romero called 911 to report his brother was trying to kill himself. Per the suit, Daniel Romero advised the dispatcher that “Adam was a disabled veteran who suffers from PTSD” and that he “would not be aggressive to officers and that he’s a veteran who just needs help.”

The lawsuit does not specify the nature of Adam Romero’s disability. A GoFundMe set up after his death says Romero served in the Army.

After calling 911, Daniel Romero left work and arrived home 15 minutes later. But 10 minutes before that — and five minutes after the call — Pitcher and Antholt forced their way into the home.

The lawsuit alleges the city and the police then committed a litany of errors, including refusing to let Daniel help and calm Adam, storming into the house with guns drawn and not involving a crisis response team. It also blames the officers and the city for not using less-lethal force.

‘Never said a word’

According to the lawsuit, Pitcher decided to force entry into the home after another officer saw blood in the kitchen.

The officers, some of whom the suit says carried ballistic shields, found Romero on the back porch, seated on a couch and holding a fillet knife in his left hand. According to the suit, the officers, who were about 10 to 20 feet away from Romero, commanded him to drop the knife. He did not.

Then, the suit says, “Adam got up and came out from behind the couch,” at which point Pitcher fired three times. At the same time, Antholt fired his Taser. Then, officers again ordered Romero to drop the knife, which fell to the side near his limp body.

Then, per the suit, Pitcher asked Romero to crawl toward him, but Romero didn’t move “as he already had a stabbing wound to his neck, was shot three times and tazed (sic) once.” Antholt fired the Taser at Romero again, striking him. At that point, they then detained him and began rendering aid.

“Adam never walked toward or ran toward the officers,” the suit says. “Adam did not fight, punch, kick or strike any officers. In fact, Adam never even touched them. Adam never said anything to officers. He never said a word.”

The lawsuit says another officer on the scene — identified as Lt. Jamie Benker, whom the suit claims “did not think Adam was going to get up and stab them” — said he “could see the moment in Adam’s eyes when he died.

Figueroa’s lawsuit, which claims violations of Romero’s Fourth and 14th Amendment rights, seeks general, special and punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. Goodyear has yet to answer her complaint in court, and no hearing dates have been set.