One more bad apple
Given the recent slew of blog posts around the country on police abuse, this latest story is timely. Just another bad apple, the batch is fine:
A Streamwood police officer has been charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct after a camera mounted on his squad car dashboard caught him repeatedly beating a motorist with his baton, prosecutors said.James Mandarino, 41, beat the motorist 15 times as the man knelt on the ground March 28, according to Assistant Cook County State's Atty. Alexander Vroustouris. The man received seven stitches to his ear and was treated for a concussion and multiple contusions, abrasions and bruises, Vroustouris said.
"At no time during the time period when the defendant is beating the victim with his baton does the video reflect that the victim had anything in his hands, nor does the video reflect the victim making any threatening motions toward the defendant,'' said Vroustouris. "The victim is completely compliant."
The officer has been charged criminally, and released on a $50,000 bond. He has been placed on paid administrative leave (translation: vacation?) pending disciplinary action.
Update: Reading the comments to the news article, I'm disappointed but not surprised that people are defending the officer and saying that the victim must have deserved what happened.
Comments
"Wholly shit!" with video and live witnesses no less. Of course, "the video doesn't show everything..."
Posted by: Jonathan C. Hansen | April 16, 2010 5:49 PM
It seems everyday law inforcement get more & more violate. But the problem is they are paid during investigations concerning incidents and most of the time don't get punished in court, they usually get a little slap on the hand. If it was of us citizens that pay their salaries, we would get a whopper fine & jail time, maybe prison. For me, I hope he gets jail time
Posted by: glawson | May 2, 2010 9:33 PM