Post by Shuftin on Jan 5, 2007 10:51:56 GMT -5
January 05, 2007
Mark Puente
Lorain- An out-of-control crowd celebrating the New Year led to a beating by a police officer, a Lorain man contends.
Norman Phillips, 23, said Patrolman Craig Payne repeat edly kicked him in the face, fracturing his skull and breaking bones in his nose and near his eye socket.
Phillips filed a complaint Thursday against Payne, who has been on the force about 16 months. Police officials did not return phone calls for comment.
Police responded to a fight about 4:30 a.m. New Year's Day outside the Flamingo Night Club on East 28th Street. A large crowd refused to leave as people were kicking and punching each other, a report said.
This is how the police report described the incident:
Payne fired his stun gun at Phillips' brother, Dante. Norman Phillips jumped on Payne's back, but Payne shook Phillips free. Payne then reloaded his Taser and fired at Phillips, but the wires became entangled.
At the same time, Officer Shawn Petty swung his baton at Phillips, who fell into the path of the baton, and was hit in the head. Phillips fell into a vehicle, hit the curb and then the ground. Phillips began to bleed and continued to fight while handcuffed.
Phillips disagrees with the police report's account. "I never got hit once with the baton," he said Thursday. "Payne is the one who assaulted me."
Phillips' complaint says he tried to grab his brother to take him away from the melee but never jumped on the officer. Phillips claims Payne threw him to the ground and kicked him in the top of the head, then looked around and kicked him twice in the face.
Phillips was treated at Community Health Partners Hospital in Lorain before being taken to Lorain County Jail.
Phillips, who has a criminal record for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, faces charges of assault on a police officer and aggravated riot.
www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/lorain/116798993478780.xml&coll=2
Mark Puente
Lorain- An out-of-control crowd celebrating the New Year led to a beating by a police officer, a Lorain man contends.
Norman Phillips, 23, said Patrolman Craig Payne repeat edly kicked him in the face, fracturing his skull and breaking bones in his nose and near his eye socket.
Phillips filed a complaint Thursday against Payne, who has been on the force about 16 months. Police officials did not return phone calls for comment.
Police responded to a fight about 4:30 a.m. New Year's Day outside the Flamingo Night Club on East 28th Street. A large crowd refused to leave as people were kicking and punching each other, a report said.
This is how the police report described the incident:
Payne fired his stun gun at Phillips' brother, Dante. Norman Phillips jumped on Payne's back, but Payne shook Phillips free. Payne then reloaded his Taser and fired at Phillips, but the wires became entangled.
At the same time, Officer Shawn Petty swung his baton at Phillips, who fell into the path of the baton, and was hit in the head. Phillips fell into a vehicle, hit the curb and then the ground. Phillips began to bleed and continued to fight while handcuffed.
Phillips disagrees with the police report's account. "I never got hit once with the baton," he said Thursday. "Payne is the one who assaulted me."
Phillips' complaint says he tried to grab his brother to take him away from the melee but never jumped on the officer. Phillips claims Payne threw him to the ground and kicked him in the top of the head, then looked around and kicked him twice in the face.
Phillips was treated at Community Health Partners Hospital in Lorain before being taken to Lorain County Jail.
Phillips, who has a criminal record for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, faces charges of assault on a police officer and aggravated riot.
www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/lorain/116798993478780.xml&coll=2
