Complaint #200507215,
May 9, 2005

Summary

[redacted] was leaving school on the day of the incident when she ran into her boyfriend, [redacted]. [redacted] had told [redacted] not to see [redacted] but [redacted] agreed to let [redacted] walk her home anyway. Several minutes after leaving the school, [redacted] and [redacted] began to argue, although they both denied it became physical. Two witnesses observed [redacted] and [redacted] and called 911 to report that a black male was assaulting a black female. Sgt. Norman Grandstaff and PO Lawrence Sidman responded to the 911 caller's house and spoke to the witnesses before approaching [redacted] and [redacted] with PO James Seery and PO William Buckley closely behind them. While PO Buckley and PO Seery spoke with [redacted], Sgt. Grandstaff and PO Sidman unsuccessfully requested that [redacted] speak with them (Allegation A). [redacted] resisted the officers' attempts to guide [redacted] further away from [redacted] and he began to punch and kick at the officers. In an effort to handcuff [redacted], Sgt. Grandstaff and PO Sidman brought [redacted] down to the ground. [redacted] stated that he was taken down by his hair (Allegation B, C). While [redacted] was down on the ground and continuing to resist being handcuffed, PO Sidman struck him in the leg with his nightstick (Allegation D). When [redacted] observed the struggle between [redacted] and the officers, she lunged at Sgt. Grandstaff and attempted to pull him off of [redacted]. PO Buckley and PO Seery then intervened and removed [redacted] from the sergeant's back. [redacted] stated that the officers pushed her, pulled her by her braids, and punched her once in the back (Allegation E, F). Both individuals were eventually handcuffed and transported in separate vehicles for arrest processing.
[redacted] Read report for details.