Federal agent sues SDPD alleging excessive force at Costco


Federal agent sues SDPD alleging excessive force at Costco

 Federal Agent Sues SDPD Over Alleged Excessive Force in Costco Parking Lot Incident

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the San Diego Police Department and several officers, alleging excessive force, false arrest, and racial discrimination following a parking lot confrontation at a Carmel Valley Costco that left him unconscious and hospitalized.

The Incident

Chu Ding, a 53-year-old Homeland Security agent, was leaving the Costco at 12350 Carmel Mountain Road on July 2, 2024, when he encountered Officer Jonathan Ferraro, who was off-duty and in civilian clothes, blocking his parking space with a pickup truck. When Ding tapped on Ferraro's passenger window to indicate he needed to leave, Ferraro moved slightly forward but then backed up again, further blocking Ding's vehicle.

According to the lawsuit, when Ding got out of his car a second time and tapped on Ferraro's truck bed, Ferraro jumped out of his vehicle "screaming insults" and allegedly called Ding a "Chinese piece of shit" before physically assaulting him. Security camera footage captured the confrontation, showing Ferraro slamming Ding to the ground, rendering him unconscious.

Injuries and Medical Treatment

Ding suffered multiple serious injuries including a concussion, fractured rib, and dislocated shoulder. Despite his injuries, Ding was handcuffed and detained by responding San Diego police officers for hours before being allowed medical attention. According to the lawsuit, police denied Ding food, water, and medical care for five hours while pressuring him to write an apology letter to Ferraro.

When Ding was finally transported to an emergency room, police attempted to handcuff his hands behind his back despite him wearing a sling, until a doctor intervened.

Arrest and Criminal Charges

Ding was arrested on suspicion of felony resisting arrest and spent nearly 13 hours in custody before posting approximately $2,000 bail. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office ultimately declined to file any criminal charges against Ding.

Federal Investigation and Career Impact

Ding's arrest triggered a nine-month internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Professional Responsibility after his name appeared on an overnight jail booking log. Though Ding was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, the lawsuit alleges that because the investigation was confidential, his coworkers continue to regard him with suspicion.

Ding, born in Singapore, became a U.S. citizen in 2006 and served five years in the U.S. Navy with deployments to the Middle East, Japan, and Australia. He is married with a 16-year-old daughter.

The Lawsuit

The 42-page federal lawsuit was filed July 1, 2025, in San Diego federal court and names Officer Jonathan Ferraro, Officer Patrick Richards, Detective Emilee Emanjomen, Sergeant James Ealson, Police Chief Scott Wahl, and the City of San Diego as defendants. The suit is being handled by attorneys Eugene Iredale and Julia Yoo of Iredale Law.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of assault, wrongful detention, false arrest, and numerous other civil rights violations, seeking general and punitive damages as well as legal fees.

Allegations of Systemic Problems

The lawsuit alleges that "The San Diego Police Department has a long history of the use of excessive and unnecessary force" and "a long history of supervisors acquiescing to the misconduct of their subordinates." The complaint describes an informal "code of silence" within SDPD where officers protect each other by not reporting corruption or misconduct.

"This case involves more than the mere exercise of the rule of silence, it involves active obstruction of justice by fellow officers in covering up outrageous and brutal misconduct," attorney Iredale stated.

Current Status

Attorney Eugene Iredale told CBS 8 that more than a year after the incident, "As far as we've been able to tell, Ferraro is still an officer in good standing. No discipline has been imposed, neither on Ferraro nor the officers who participate in the cover-up of this brutality."

A San Diego Police Department spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit but declined to comment on pending litigation. Neither the department nor the City Attorney's Office immediately responded to requests for comment on the incident.

Video Evidence

Attorney Iredale provided security camera footage of the incident to media outlets, though the video is grainy and has no sound. According to Iredale, the video corroborates key elements of the incident as described in the lawsuit and "may be all the proof you need."

The case highlights ongoing concerns about police accountability and use of force, particularly involving interactions between law enforcement officers from different agencies.

Sources

  1. McDonald, Jeff. "Federal agent sues SDPD alleging excessive force, false arrest over off-duty Costco encounter." San Diego Union-Tribune, July 12, 2025. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/07/12/federal-agent-sues-sdpd-alleging-excessive-force-false-arrest-over-off-duty-costco-encounter/
  2. "Homeland Security agent suing SDPD officer after clash in Costco parking lot." NBC 7 San Diego, July 7, 2025. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/sdpd-officer-accused-of-excessive-force-costco/3863552/
  3. "SDPD officer accused of parking lot attack against Homeland Security agent." Times of San Diego, July 7, 2025. https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2025/07/07/sdpd-parking-lot-attack-homeland-security/
  4. "Federal agent accuses off-duty SDPD officer of assault in Costco parking lot in new suit." CBS 8 San Diego. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/homeland-security-agent-assault-off-duty-san-diego-officer-costco-parking-suit/509-41be4c37-8f64-4a8f-83ee-d1a6cd9cca45
  5. "California cop accused of beating 53-year-old Homeland Security agent in Costco lot." NewsBreak, July 2025. https://www.newsbreak.com/san-diego-post-314653203/4095295113659-california-cop-accused-of-beating-53-year-old-homeland-security-agent-in-costco-lot
  6. "San Diego Police Officer Accused of Racial Slurs and Excessive Force in Lawsuit Involving Homeland Security Agent." Hoodline, July 13, 2025. https://hoodline.com/2025/07/san-diego-police-officer-accused-of-racial-slurs-and-excessive-force-in-lawsuit-involving-homeland-security-agent/
  7. "Police officer accused of beating Homeland Security agent." AsAmNews, July 9, 2025. https://asamnews.com/2025/07/09/excessive-force-false-arrest-singapore-homeland-security-agent-sued/
  8. "Eugene Iredale." Iredale Law. https://www.iredalelaw.com/staff/eugene-iredale

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