City of Anderson police, SWAT and investigators work the scene outside Renaissance Academy 805 East Whitner Street Anderson, S.C. Thursday, April 17, 2025. The shooting took place in a school owned park across the street from the school building.
San Diego, California – A federal Homeland Security agent is suing the San Diego Police Department and several of its officers after a parking lot altercation at a Carmel Mountain Costco ended with him unconscious, hospitalized, and jailed on charges later dropped by prosecutors.
The incident occurred on July 2, 2024, and was captured on store surveillance footage. It began as a routine parking dispute and escalated rapidly into a violent encounter involving SDPD Officer Jonathan Ferraro, who was off duty, in civilian clothes, and driving a pickup truck. According to the lawsuit, Ferraro blocked the car of 53-year-old Chu Ding, a fellow federal law enforcement officer, who was attempting to leave his parking space.
When Ding tapped on Ferraro’s vehicle to indicate he needed to exit, Ferraro allegedly became aggressive, exited his vehicle, and assaulted Ding—knocking him to the pavement and rendering him unconscious. Ding was then arrested, handcuffed, and held in the back of a patrol car for hours before being transported to a hospital and later jailed on a felony charge of obstructing an officer. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute.
The physical toll on Ding was substantial. He suffered a concussion, fractured rib, and dislocated shoulder. According to his attorney, Eugene Iredale, Ding was also denied medical attention for several hours, forced to sign an apology letter under duress, and subjected to tight restraints despite visible injuries. His request for basic necessities, including food and water, were reportedly ignored.
Ding’s detention had professional consequences as well. The arrest triggered an internal investigation by the Homeland Security Office of Professional Responsibility, which spent nine months reviewing the incident before clearing him of wrongdoing. According to the complaint, Ding missed four months of work and continues to suffer physical and emotional pain related to the event.
The lawsuit accuses Ferraro of using excessive force, making a false arrest, and violating Ding’s civil rights. It also alleges a broader culture of misconduct within the San Diego Police Department, citing a “code of silence” in which officers routinely fail to report or actively cover up acts of excessive force by colleagues. Also named in the suit are Officer Patrick Richards, Detective Emilee Emanjomen, Sgt. James Ealson, and the City of San Diego.
While SDPD has acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit, it has declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. Ding’s legal team argues that the video evidence and subsequent medical records leave little doubt as to what occurred — and point to a broader pattern of unchecked police violence.
