Post by WaTcHeR on May 6, 2006 12:55:29 GMT -5
05/06/2006 - On April 18, 2006, during a traffic stop, after a purported high speed pursuit, exceeding 120 mph, Jonathan Hart, a black off-duty cop was brutally beaten, kicked, and choked.
At about 5 p.m., Hart was operating a motorcycle on Route 4, toward Solomon's Island, Md. Hart was accompanied by off-duty Metropolitan D.C. police officer, Earl Brown, who was riding a motorcycle in plain sight of Hart. In his rear view mirror, Hart noticed that an unmarked police cruiser was approaching from behind. Based upon years of experience/police training, Hart moved to the left shoulder and put the motorcycle in neutral and placed both feet on the ground, simultaneously raising his hands shoulder height. Hart watched in his rear view mirror as one officer exited the cruiser and ran toward him. Hart was grabbed on each side of his person (shoulder/bicep) and thrown to the ground. As he lay on the ground injured and defenseless, the officer(s) struck Hart on his right side (leg/lower back). Hart was left laying handcuffed (face- first) on his chest; trying to breathe while one officer had his knee in Hart's lower back. Hart informed the officers he could not breathe. Officer Channing rolled Hart into a seated position. Then, officer, Tomlinson attempted to pull the motorcycle helmet from Hart's head, knowing the helmet was strapped to Hart's head and that pulling it would cause injury, inflict needless pain/suffering/choking. The officer continued to tug on the helmet while Hart screamed in pain. During these acts of needless police abuse, and infliction of pain, witnesses, aside from Hart and his police companion, assembled at the scene. According to 3 separate witnesses ( George Daniels; Willie Buck; Joe Barton), officers Channing and Tomlinson punched/kicked Hart in his lower extremities as he lay handcuffed defenseless. Witness accounts state one of the officers pointed a weapon at the head of Hart. All three witnesses affirm although handcuffed and not resisting the officers Hart was beaten and kicked.
At about 5 p.m., Hart was operating a motorcycle on Route 4, toward Solomon's Island, Md. Hart was accompanied by off-duty Metropolitan D.C. police officer, Earl Brown, who was riding a motorcycle in plain sight of Hart. In his rear view mirror, Hart noticed that an unmarked police cruiser was approaching from behind. Based upon years of experience/police training, Hart moved to the left shoulder and put the motorcycle in neutral and placed both feet on the ground, simultaneously raising his hands shoulder height. Hart watched in his rear view mirror as one officer exited the cruiser and ran toward him. Hart was grabbed on each side of his person (shoulder/bicep) and thrown to the ground. As he lay on the ground injured and defenseless, the officer(s) struck Hart on his right side (leg/lower back). Hart was left laying handcuffed (face- first) on his chest; trying to breathe while one officer had his knee in Hart's lower back. Hart informed the officers he could not breathe. Officer Channing rolled Hart into a seated position. Then, officer, Tomlinson attempted to pull the motorcycle helmet from Hart's head, knowing the helmet was strapped to Hart's head and that pulling it would cause injury, inflict needless pain/suffering/choking. The officer continued to tug on the helmet while Hart screamed in pain. During these acts of needless police abuse, and infliction of pain, witnesses, aside from Hart and his police companion, assembled at the scene. According to 3 separate witnesses ( George Daniels; Willie Buck; Joe Barton), officers Channing and Tomlinson punched/kicked Hart in his lower extremities as he lay handcuffed defenseless. Witness accounts state one of the officers pointed a weapon at the head of Hart. All three witnesses affirm although handcuffed and not resisting the officers Hart was beaten and kicked.