Lawsuit claims Dearborn police officers suffocated 38-year-old during welfare check at motel

DEARBORN (WWJ) — A lawsuit has been filed against the city of Dearborn, alleging two police officers suffocated a man and failed to give him medical attention when they were called for a welfare check in 2021.

The lawsuit, filed by Marko Law, PLLC, alleges Dearborn Police Officers Ashley Kusnir and Matthew Wilson suffocated Salvatore “Sal” Cipolloni on Sept. 23, 2021, an incident caught on Wilson’s body-worn camera.

Attorney Jon Marko told WWJ’s Darrylin Horne police were called to conduct a welfare check at the Falcon Inn Motel on Michigan Avenue, as Cipolloni was experiencing a mental health crisis and had ingested drugs.

Wilson arrived first and encountered the 38-year old Cipolloni “hiding behind an emergency exit door, crying for help.” according to a press release from Marko Law. Wilson allegedly “grabbed Cipolloni’s left arm and the back of his neck, and he forced Cipolloni to the ground” and Cipolloni “continued to beg for help,” according to the law firm.

Two minutes later, Kusnir arrived on scene and the officers allegedly “pinned Cipolloni facedown” with Kusnir on his neck and holding his wrists, and Wilson kneeling on his upper legs.

“This incident, as evidenced by the video footage, unfortunately shows another instance of a police officer violating an innocent individual’s civil rights,” said Attorney Michael Jones of Marko Law, per the release.

No other details surrounding the officers’ encounter with Cipolloni were released.

“Instead of getting this guy help, he was thrown to the ground, he had a massive pressure put on the back of his neck and was killed. And it’s all on video,” Marko said.

The lawsuit is being filed on behalf of the mother of Cipolloni's children. Marko says the firm is in the process of serving the defendants — Wilson and Kusnir — and will then “proceed through depositions and all the legal things and eventually we’ll have a trial in front of a jury to decide what the proper redress is for the family.”

Marko says Michigan State Police handled the investigation into the initial case, but he isn't sure if any actions were taken against the two officers.

“I know that they declined to give statements to the Michigan State Police regarding this. I do not know what, if any, action was taken against them. That’s something that we’ll be finding out in our case,” Marko said.

The WWJ newsroom has reached out to the Dearborn Police Department for comment on the lawsuit and is awaiting a response.

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