Post by Shuftin on Feb 22, 2007 11:41:22 GMT -5
February 15, 2007
A private citizen who photographed Asberry Wylder's fatal standoff with police testified Wednesday that an officer beat the wounded man with a baton after he'd been shot and handcuffed.
Testifying in federal court, Randall Blankenship said a single North Charleston officer "decided it wasn't over yet" and repeatedly struck Wylder in the back of the head.
He said the officer hit Wylder 12 to 15 times as the mentally troubled man lay bleeding on Rivers Avenue.
"It looked like a carpenter trying to drive a nail," Blankenship said, describing the blows. "Just steady bam, bam, bam."
Blankenship also became the first witness in the Wylder family's $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of North Charleston to confirm seeing a knife in the mentally handicapped man's possession.
He described it as "steak knife-sized," and said Wylder clutched it to his body while police used tear gas to get him to comply.
"They were saying, 'empty your hands, drop it on the ground,' " Blankenship said.
Wylder's family contends the 41-year-old's civil rights were violated during the Nov. 7, 2003, standoff because police shot and killed someone with known mental problems. The family also alleges police used excessive force because Wylder was black.
Authorities contend Wylder was violent, tried to stab an officer and refused repeated commands to disarm after allegedly stealing deli ham from a Piggly Wiggly supermarket.
Blankenship said he photographed the end of the standoff by using an instant camera he kept in his truck. The camera was seized by police after the shooting and used in the state and local investigation that ultimately cleared officers of wrongdoing.
Blankenship unsuccessfully tried to sue The Post and Courier for $200 million for publishing some of the pictures, which were shared with the media by Solicitor Ralph Hoisington.
Several other witnesses testified Wednesday that they thought North Charleston police overreacted in subduing Wylder.
"I saw a man lying in front of my mailbox being beaten," said Patty Thomas, who worked in an office next to where the standoff occurred.
Wylder did not make any threatening gestures from the ground, Thomas said.
"How can a dead man come after a cop?" she said.
The defendants' case is expected to begin today.
www.charleston.net/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=localnews&tableId=130619&pubDate=2/15/2007
A private citizen who photographed Asberry Wylder's fatal standoff with police testified Wednesday that an officer beat the wounded man with a baton after he'd been shot and handcuffed.
Testifying in federal court, Randall Blankenship said a single North Charleston officer "decided it wasn't over yet" and repeatedly struck Wylder in the back of the head.
He said the officer hit Wylder 12 to 15 times as the mentally troubled man lay bleeding on Rivers Avenue.
"It looked like a carpenter trying to drive a nail," Blankenship said, describing the blows. "Just steady bam, bam, bam."
Blankenship also became the first witness in the Wylder family's $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of North Charleston to confirm seeing a knife in the mentally handicapped man's possession.
He described it as "steak knife-sized," and said Wylder clutched it to his body while police used tear gas to get him to comply.
"They were saying, 'empty your hands, drop it on the ground,' " Blankenship said.
Wylder's family contends the 41-year-old's civil rights were violated during the Nov. 7, 2003, standoff because police shot and killed someone with known mental problems. The family also alleges police used excessive force because Wylder was black.
Authorities contend Wylder was violent, tried to stab an officer and refused repeated commands to disarm after allegedly stealing deli ham from a Piggly Wiggly supermarket.
Blankenship said he photographed the end of the standoff by using an instant camera he kept in his truck. The camera was seized by police after the shooting and used in the state and local investigation that ultimately cleared officers of wrongdoing.
Blankenship unsuccessfully tried to sue The Post and Courier for $200 million for publishing some of the pictures, which were shared with the media by Solicitor Ralph Hoisington.
Several other witnesses testified Wednesday that they thought North Charleston police overreacted in subduing Wylder.
"I saw a man lying in front of my mailbox being beaten," said Patty Thomas, who worked in an office next to where the standoff occurred.
Wylder did not make any threatening gestures from the ground, Thomas said.
"How can a dead man come after a cop?" she said.
The defendants' case is expected to begin today.
www.charleston.net/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=localnews&tableId=130619&pubDate=2/15/2007