A woman who was arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing outside a Rolling Hills Estates mall but released days later when prosecutors declined to charge her with a crime sued the county Friday, alleging federal civil rights violations.
Cherie Townsend, 40, was arrested in mid-May in connection with the stabbing death of Susan Leeds, 66, of Rancho Palos Verdes, who was attacked about 12:15 p.m. May 3 in the parking garage at the Promenade on the Peninsula in the 500 block of Deep Valley Drive.
Leeds was found inside her white 2016 Mercedes-Benz SUV parked on the first floor of the Promenade’s parking garage, with her throat cut and several stab wounds to the chest.
Townsend’s vehicle — a gold 2008 Chevrolet Malibu — had been parked on the same floor, Sheriff Jim McDonnell said after she was arrested, although he noted there was still a “tremendous amount of investigative work” to be done.
Five days after she was arrested, Townsend was released, with the District Attorney’s Office declining to file charges and asking sheriff’s officials to conduct additional investigation.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles federal court, also names McDonnell and the mayors of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, alleging false imprisonment, defamation, emotional distress, negligence and civil rights violations.
“Our client fully intends to try and repair the damage done to her and her family by being wrongly accused of murder by Sheriff McDonnell and send a message to the sheriff’s department that racial profiling is illegal and must be stopped,” said Nazareth Haysbert, Townsend’s attorney.
In a statement released after Townsend announced a multimillion-dollar damages claim last month, sheriff’s department officials said the killing remains under investigation.
“This has proven to be a very complex, yet active investigation,” according to the department. “Investigators are still receiving tips from the public and are diligently following up on each and every lead. With the lack of eyewitnesses in this case, the physical and forensic evidence collected is continually re-evaluated. Additionally, investigators are coordinating their efforts in the furtherance of this investigation with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Unit.”
Sheriff’s deputies initially detained a man in connection with the killing, but he was ultimately ruled out as a suspect and was released.
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