Texas Town Settles Arrest Suit

The city of Austin has settled a lawsuit by a deaf woman. Police arrested Esther Valdez for resisting arrest in 2009. She did not hear an officer commanding her to stop walking down a sidewalk. The charges were dismissed. The city did not admit any fault, but agreed to provide training for officers on how to communicate with the deaf and call for a sign language interpreter. Videophones will be installed in the jail's holding room as well as the municipal court building. The city also agreed to pay Valdez $500 along with her attorney's fees.