Post by KC on Jan 9, 2007 23:02:46 GMT -5
NEW ORLEANS -- As authorities searched for ways to stem the violence that has scattered nine bodies across New Orleans since New Year, police also were investigating seven of their own for allegedly beating a man in the French Quarter.
Two officers, including a 17-year veteran who has been disciplined repeatedly for misconduct, were reassigned to desk duty after a complaint by Ronald Coleman, who said he was beaten by officers Dec. 30.
"The investigation is ongoing, but we felt it was necessary to immediately reassign two of the officers," said deputy chief Marlon Defillo, who heads the Public Integrity Bureau. "That's not to say others won't be reassigned as the investigation goes on."
The latest charges against New Orleans police hit a department already struggling with a crime wave and clinging to public trust following a series of incidents stretching back to Hurricane Katrina.
In the Dec. 30 incident, Coleman, 25, a lobbyist for the community group ACORN, said he was beaten and handcuffed by plainclothes officers while walking near Bourbon Street.
"I didn't know what was going on, they just came up and started hitting me," Coleman said Tuesday. "They were yelling to stop resisting, but I wasn't doing anything except trying to find out why they were beating me up."
Coleman said the officers told them they were looking for a black man suspected of being a pickpocket. As soon as they checked his identification, Coleman said they released him. By that time, however, he had a concussion, facial cuts, bumps on his head and bruised ribs.
"This has really affected me," Coleman said. "I can't even walk to my car by myself anymore. And if I see a group coming toward me, I panic."
Sgt. Jake Schnapp Jr., a decorated, 17-year veteran of the force, was reassigned to desk duty and camera surveillance. Civil service records show Schnapp has been investigated a number of times, including the alleged 1991 beating of a 20-year-old man, and for keeping a collection of gruesome crime-scene photographs. In 1999, Schnapp was suspended for 10 days for driving his police cruiser the wrong way up a one-way street, and in 2003 he was suspended for five days for causing a traffic accident with his police cruiser.
Officer Reynolds Rigney Jr., who joined the police in 2004, was reassigned to technical support.
Results from the department's internal investigation would be turned over to the district attorney's office, Defillo said.
The Coleman incident heaps an additional burden on Police Superintendent Warren Riley, whose department has been under fire since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, 2005.
Charges of looting, leaving town without permission and the beating of a retired teacher dogged the department after the storm. Superintendent Eddie Compass resigned Sept. 22, 2005, and Mayor Ray Nagin tapped Riley from within the department's ranks.
Last month six officers and one former officer were charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings on the Danziger Bridge that killed two men and wounded four other people.
Four of the men, including a former officer now a truck driver in Texas, face first-degree murder charges that carry a possible death sentence, in addition to attempted murder charges. Three others face attempted murder charges. All seven pleaded not guilty.
Two police officers charged with second-degree battery in a beating captured on videotape by the Associated Press in the French Quarter are scheduled for trail March 12.
www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5914888
Two officers, including a 17-year veteran who has been disciplined repeatedly for misconduct, were reassigned to desk duty after a complaint by Ronald Coleman, who said he was beaten by officers Dec. 30.
"The investigation is ongoing, but we felt it was necessary to immediately reassign two of the officers," said deputy chief Marlon Defillo, who heads the Public Integrity Bureau. "That's not to say others won't be reassigned as the investigation goes on."
The latest charges against New Orleans police hit a department already struggling with a crime wave and clinging to public trust following a series of incidents stretching back to Hurricane Katrina.
In the Dec. 30 incident, Coleman, 25, a lobbyist for the community group ACORN, said he was beaten and handcuffed by plainclothes officers while walking near Bourbon Street.
"I didn't know what was going on, they just came up and started hitting me," Coleman said Tuesday. "They were yelling to stop resisting, but I wasn't doing anything except trying to find out why they were beating me up."
Coleman said the officers told them they were looking for a black man suspected of being a pickpocket. As soon as they checked his identification, Coleman said they released him. By that time, however, he had a concussion, facial cuts, bumps on his head and bruised ribs.
"This has really affected me," Coleman said. "I can't even walk to my car by myself anymore. And if I see a group coming toward me, I panic."
Sgt. Jake Schnapp Jr., a decorated, 17-year veteran of the force, was reassigned to desk duty and camera surveillance. Civil service records show Schnapp has been investigated a number of times, including the alleged 1991 beating of a 20-year-old man, and for keeping a collection of gruesome crime-scene photographs. In 1999, Schnapp was suspended for 10 days for driving his police cruiser the wrong way up a one-way street, and in 2003 he was suspended for five days for causing a traffic accident with his police cruiser.
Officer Reynolds Rigney Jr., who joined the police in 2004, was reassigned to technical support.
Results from the department's internal investigation would be turned over to the district attorney's office, Defillo said.
The Coleman incident heaps an additional burden on Police Superintendent Warren Riley, whose department has been under fire since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, 2005.
Charges of looting, leaving town without permission and the beating of a retired teacher dogged the department after the storm. Superintendent Eddie Compass resigned Sept. 22, 2005, and Mayor Ray Nagin tapped Riley from within the department's ranks.
Last month six officers and one former officer were charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings on the Danziger Bridge that killed two men and wounded four other people.
Four of the men, including a former officer now a truck driver in Texas, face first-degree murder charges that carry a possible death sentence, in addition to attempted murder charges. Three others face attempted murder charges. All seven pleaded not guilty.
Two police officers charged with second-degree battery in a beating captured on videotape by the Associated Press in the French Quarter are scheduled for trail March 12.
www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5914888