Police Accountability Report: Episode 101 – LRN.fm
Story #1
‘Terror and Torture’ in Arkansas Jail
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/07/19/59508.htm
Arkansas sheriff’s deputies tied a man to chair for eight hours and beat him “until his teeth were knocked from his mouth” – after a traffic ticket, the man claims in court.
Anthony Westbrook sued Saline County, its Sheriff Bruce Pennington and Deputy Calvin Reed, in Saline County Court. He claims the defendants “have created an atmosphere of terror and torture at the [Saline County Detention] Center”.
Westbrook, who also sued five Jane Doe deputies, claims he was beaten and unconstitutionally restrained for 10 hours after his arrest and medical treatment.
He claims the Doe deputies at the Saline County Detention Center not only watched the beating but refused to intervene and “conspired between themselves” to destroy video evidence.
“After being arrested and detained, Anthony Westbrook was handcuffed, restrained and beaten by Deputy Calvin Reed until his teeth were knocked from his mouth and he suffered facial and jaw and other physical injuries and other injuries constituting excessive and unconstitutional force,” Westbrook says in the complaint.
“Following the beating by Deputy Calvin Reed, Anthony Westbrook sought help and medical care from the employees at the Center and instead was unreasonably and unconstitutionally restrained for a period of 10 hours in violation [of] his constitutional rights.”
Westbrook claims the deputies threatened him “with further unconstitutional punishment if he continued to request such help.”
“The defendants not only failed to provide such protective help but became agitated and intentionally ignored the injuries of plaintiff after he was injured,” the complaint states.
“… (F)ollowing plaintiff’s beating and injury, the defendants conspired between themselves, under the guidance of the supervising official for the Detention Center, to misrepresent the facts and circumstances involving the beating and injury of Anthony Westbrook to obscure their acts to avoid accountability for what they had done, including destroying video evidence of the beating and detention.”
Westbrook claims that Saline Detention Center officials have a history of beating inmates-so much so that the beatings are “part of the official custom and practice at the Saline County Detention Center.”
Story #2
Buckner Police Officer Indicted in Resident’s Death
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/communities/franklin-jefferson-hamilton/buckner-police-officer-indicted-in-resident-s-death/article_641c8130-f0ad-11e2-a159-0019bb2963f4.html
A Buckner, Illinois police officer, William P. McKinney, is being charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery and official misconduct in the July 11 death of resident Roy D. Barnhart.
William P. McKinney, 59, was indicted by a Franklin County Grand Jury Friday July 19th, Franklin County State’s Attorney Evan Owens said.
Barnhart, 62, died several days after an altercation with McKinney on July 7.
The altercation occurred after McKinney, a full-time officer with the Buckner department for about three years, responded to a call reporting a fight in progress at a residence on Main Street in the village.
According to the indictment, McKinney pushed a handcuffed Barnhart to the ground and struck him in the head.
McKinney was arrested and taken to Franklin County Jail, where bond was set at $500,000.
That’s this week’s Police Accountability Report brought to you by CopBlock.org.
I hope you’ll take a moment to consider just what it is that you are paying for via taxation – and speak out against the corruption.
Until next week, stay safe and remember that badges don’t grant extra rights.
