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That third man, Bridgeport, Connecticut, police officer Clive Higgins, was charged Friday with violating a man’s civil rights by using unreasonable force, the New Haven Register reported.
The incident occurred three years ago, but the evidence was preserved on video — and it’s pretty jarring.
The victim said in his lawsuit that he was motionless on the ground and not resisting when the officers kicked and stomped him.
As the New Haven Register reported:
Prosecutors say that after another officer deployed his stun gun, Higgins approached [Orlando Lopez-Soto], who was lying prone on the ground, and kicked him in the head and neck.
Higgins, a Bridgeport police officer since 2002, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The other two officers, Elson Morales and Joseph Lawlor, pleaded guilty in June to deprivation of rights under color of law. Morales and Lawlor agreed to resign from the police department and each face up to a year in prison when they are sentenced Sept. 2.
Prosecutors said Morales used his stun gun a second time after Lopez-Soto was effectively incapacitated and Lawlor kicked him several times.
The city recently settled the case by agreeing to pay $198,000 to Lopez-Soto.
Why did it take so long for the officers to be brought to justice?
The chase and beating occurred in 2011, but the video did not gain the attention of authorities until last year.
From the New Haven Register:
All three officers seen in the video, which surfaced in 2013, were placed on paid administrative duty pending a police internal affairs investigation. NAACP leaders at the time called on police officials to arrest and fire the officers.
Lopez-Soto pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges in July 2012 and was sentenced to five years in prison.
I'm not sure if this officer in particular will see 10 years or not. They usually get off pretty easy.
originally posted by: intrptr
I'm not sure if this officer in particular will see 10 years or not. They usually get off pretty easy.
One indicator of leniency is being placed on "administrative leave" instead of in jail awaiting trial for assault like we would be.
originally posted by: Biigs
I'm a massive fan of comeuppance - this cop is going to get it.
You dont kick anyone when they are tasered and down, you use batons on their legs or pepper spray if they DON'T drop with a taser.
That guy was clearly incapacitated and not even moving much less struggling. Quite right, if this video had not come up would anything have happened to rough cops?!
originally posted by: intrptr
I'm not sure if this officer in particular will see 10 years or not. They usually get off pretty easy.
One indicator of leniency is being placed on "administrative leave" instead of in jail awaiting trial for assault like we would be.
originally posted by: oblvion
originally posted by: intrptr
I'm not sure if this officer in particular will see 10 years or not. They usually get off pretty easy.
One indicator of leniency is being placed on "administrative leave" instead of in jail awaiting trial for assault like we would be.
That is one of my biggest problems as well.
There are 2 justice systems. Regular guy gets in a fight, a couple punches get thrown, he is arrested immediately for assault. Cops beat without mercy a subdued guy, they get a paid vacation, more than likely nothing will happen to them, and even if it does, it will be many times less than any regular guy for the same exact actions.
There is only supposed to be one justice system, all treated equally under the law at all times.
We are seeing crony law enforcement, just like our BS rigged economy, and insider trading with politicians and big business.
The entire thing is rigged by the lowlifes in their favor.
I am ready for this entire system to die, so it can be replaced after all these douche bags get some actual justice visited on them.
originally posted by: JiggyPotamus
I think the fact that another officer pulls up and immediately starts kicking the guy after he exits his car is a good indication that this type of thing is not foreign to them. He gets there and the suspect is subdued, on the ground not moving, and he attacks him...? Nobody could get me to believe that this guy hadn't done that before.