RadioOnFire.com - Baltimore City police stopped West as he drove through northeast Baltimore on July 18, 2013.
Police said officers spotted a bulge of suspected drugs in his sock and West took off. Officers with Morgan State University police helped city police officers subdue West.
An autopsy commissioned by West's family concluded that the 44-year-old man died from asphyxiation while being restrained. The family filed a federal lawsuit against the city and state in 2014, and all interested parties agreed to a settlement.
"It's a federal constitutional claim, so when you consider the risk to the city, the family's interest, both parties decided that it was the reasonable and wise thing to do," Baltimore City Solicitor David Ralph said.
The city's Board of Estimates will vote on the city's share of the settlement Aug. 9.
The state Board of Public Works unanimously voted Wednesday without discussion to approve a $400,000 settlement with the West family.
City officials said it's the right thing to do.
"The purpose of our settlements is to bring finality, and this is the family's idea of what justice means to them and the city," Ralph said.
The family's attorney declined to comment until the agreement is finalized.
West's sister, who held weekly vigils to draw attention to her brother's death, could not be reached for comment.
The officers involved have all been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Source WBAL
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