KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE: A mother has sued the city of Knoxville, its police chief, and the four officers after they allegedly failed to save the life of her son a year earlier. Mika Wheeler Clabo lost his life after falling into the Tennessee River. But despite the presence of cops, he did not receive any help and died.
Now, Mika’s mother Kimberly Williams-Clabo filed the suit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, accusing the authorities of not just saving her son but also prohibiting others from taking any steps. The woman’s attorney Lance Baker, told The Washington Post, “Mika deserved better than what he got … from people who were supposed to be first responders. The first responders were essentially bystanders looking on.”
Who was Mika Clabo?
Mika was reportedly a tree surgeon whose life went upside down days before he died. The Washington Post citing the lawsuit stated that the 30-year-old had become addicted to drugs in his early years but also “excelled in a court-sponsored rehabilitation program." However, “in the days leading up to his death, Clabo relapsed."
A missing report was filed for him on July 21 before he was found on July 25 but not in good condition. During that time only, he plunged into the dirty waters of the river while a Knoxville officer watched. The cop then reportedly ordered Mika to swim back to the bank. The same officer also contacted the Knoxville Fire Department asking for a rescue boat and told the victim to “hang out down there, dude”.
‘The result may have been different’
Sometime later, two more cops arrived at the scene and one of them allegedly said, “he’s not going anywhere” despite seeing Mika struggle inside the water. The cops “acted with no urgency whatsoever throughout the incident to respond to the life-or-death situation,” the suit claimed.
The official filing also added that officers did not do anything even after a restaurant employee told them “that tree’s wrapped around his neck” and when Mika got completely swamped under the river, one of the cops just said, “What do we do?” Though Knox County medical examiners announced Mika’s death an accidental drowning, the lawyer has asserted, “If he had received actual trained first responders instead of bystanders, the result may have been different.”
‘I will always miss and love and cherish our memories together’
Meanwhile, Mika has been remembered fondly by his loved ones. A person shared below her obituary, “Me and Mika really enjoyed each other’s company I’ll never forget Mika he was like a BROTHER TO ME I will always miss and love and cherish our memories together and his mom Kim was like a second mom to me for a bit love you guys my heart ❤️ and prayers will be with y’all’s family.”
Another person wrote, “So sad to see a young life gone. My heart breaks for you, Kim. Prayers for you and all of your family and friends that will grieve his loss.” The third one added, “Oh Mika it has been a month but still feels like yesterday. We all have disagreements but I miss you so much, I love you very much. Your mother loves you more than anything in the world please be happy and in peace till we see you again.”
