My Rhode Island personal injury law firm recently looked into a case in which the Bridgeport, Connecticut Police Department settled a lawsuit alleging severe brutality during arrest.
Video footage from the May 20, 2011 scene shows three officers kicking the suspect, Orlando Lopez-Soto, 28, in Beardsley Park. Officers Lawlor and Morales had been riding in their patrol car when they saw a van with tinted windows traveling through the city’s East Side. Once they activated their lights, the van took off at high speeds; the officers pursued the van until it became stuck in the high grass at Beardsley Park. The driver of the van, Mr. Lopez-Soto, then took off on foot. Because the officers believed the suspect had a gun, they yelled for him to stop running or he would be Tased. According to one police report, Officer Morales deployed his department-issued Taser and fired one shot at the Lopez-Soto, striking him in the back. The suspect immediately fell to the ground.
As the suspect tried to get up, Officer Morales then used his Taser again. As seen in the video, Officer Lawlor attempted to handcuff Lopez-Soto, while both Officers Lawlor and Morales kicked and stomped on him until he stopped resisting arrest. Officer Higgins then pulled up in his patrol car, got out, and leaned on Morales for support as he kicked Lopez-Soto.
According to the police report, Lopez-Soto went to the hospital, but only for shots from the Taser gun. There is no mention in the report of pain and personal injuries from kicking and stomping.
Lopez-Soto filed a lawsuit against the Bridgeport Police Department claiming that the defendants kicked him with great force over a dozen times upon various body parts including his head, and stomped on his back. The lawsuit settled for $198,000.
You are protected by the law here in Rhode Island, as well as in other states, if you have experienced police brutality as alleged in Lopez-Soto’s case. According to R.I. Gen. Laws. § 12-7-8, “no greater restraint than is necessary shall be used for the detention of any person, and no unnecessary or unreasonable force shall be used in making an arrest.” If you do sustain personal injuries during arrest, from fractured bones to traumatic brain injury (TBI), you should bring your case for review by an experienced personal injuries lawyer who specializes in traumatic injuries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Bottaro
Mike Bottaro is a Rhode Island personal injury attorney. With offices in Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston, and several other locations, The Bottaro Law Firm serves clients throughout Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts.
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More information about The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC
As the suspect tried to get up, Officer Morales then used his Taser again. As seen in the video, Officer Lawlor attempted to handcuff Lopez-Soto, while both Officers Lawlor and Morales kicked and stomped on him until he stopped resisting arrest. Officer Higgins then pulled up in his patrol car, got out, and leaned on Morales for support as he kicked Lopez-Soto.
According to the police report, Lopez-Soto went to the hospital, but only for shots from the Taser gun. There is no mention in the report of pain and personal injuries from kicking and stomping.
Lopez-Soto filed a lawsuit against the Bridgeport Police Department claiming that the defendants kicked him with great force over a dozen times upon various body parts including his head, and stomped on his back. The lawsuit settled for $198,000.
You are protected by the law here in Rhode Island, as well as in other states, if you have experienced police brutality as alleged in Lopez-Soto’s case. According to R.I. Gen. Laws. § 12-7-8, “no greater restraint than is necessary shall be used for the detention of any person, and no unnecessary or unreasonable force shall be used in making an arrest.” If you do sustain personal injuries during arrest, from fractured bones to traumatic brain injury (TBI), you should bring your case for review by an experienced personal injuries lawyer who specializes in traumatic injuries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Bottaro
Mike Bottaro is a Rhode Island personal injury attorney. With offices in Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston, and several other locations, The Bottaro Law Firm serves clients throughout Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts.
Copyright The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC - Google+
More information about The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC
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