Minneapolis Cops Again Caught Beating Suspect - Video
Minneapolis police are once again caught on film viciously beating a suspect, who in this case had already surrendered. Nicolas Kastner is the passenger in the getaway vehicle the police are chasing in the below video. When that car stops and the driver, Brian McCarthy, of the vehicle flees the scene, Kastner does not flee. Instead he lies on the pavement with his arms spread indicating that he is surrendering.
Instead of simply arresting him, however, the two officers beat him severely, kick him several times and tase him at least twice.
The following video is a news report of the incident:
Officer Sherry Appledorn, who has been a Minneapolis police officer for 16 years, is seen in the video standing over Kastner and then is seen stomping on his back with her foot. She stomps on him four times, then she proceeds to kick him nine times.
The police state that Appledorn believes at this point that her partner may have been killed from action that took place prior to what is shown in the video, although they do not say if Kastner is a suspect in that regard. Appledorn's partner, however, is perfectly fine.
Officer Joe Will, who is also a long time veteran of the Minneapolis police with 14 years on the job, next sits on Kastner, after which Appledorn begins kicking him once again.
At this point Appledorn uses her taser on Kastner, tasing him twice.
In a video statement three days after the incident Appledorn states, "The passenger failed to get on the ground. I grabbed him and threw him on the ground face first. [He] started crawling under the squad in an attempt to get away. The suspect refused to place his arms behind his back."
The video clearly shows that Appledorn's statement is a blatant falsehood. Officers Appledorn and Will were not charged in the incident and both are on active duty on the Minneapolis police force at this time.
Kastner's attorney states that he and Kastner have filed a federal lawsuit alleging police brutality, excessive force, and a cover-up - especially by Appledorn.
Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said that his department has referred this case to the St. Paul City Attorney for possible prosecution. St. Paul is directly across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis.
This is the second time in less than a month that Minneapolis police officers have been involved in a beating incident that was caught on tape. (1)
The Minneapolis Police department is also suffering criticism because seven of its officers were recently named for being under federal investigation for possible illegal activities while they were members of the multi-jurisdictional Metro Gang Strike Force.
The second video is the raw video of the incident:
The Strike Force was disbanded because of scores of criminal activities by members of the force, (2) including confiscation of cash and property from illegal immigrants and suspected drug dealers. Very little of the confiscated property was ever turned in, but instead became the personal property of the confiscating officers.
Confiscated property included cars, cash, jet skis, TVs, furniture, jewelry, computers, electronic equipment, among other items.
One Minneapolis police officer who is under federal investigation as part of the Metro Gang Strike Force has quit his job amid charges that he used confiscated electronics (3) to stalk his ex-girlfriend.
Plus a Minneapolis Police sergeant who is a former member of the strike force is suing the city of Minneapolis, claiming he was reassigned after trying to blow the whistle (4) on the Metro Gang Strike Force in 2007.
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(1) Minneapolis Police Caught Beating, Kicking Suspect - Video, http://inthespotlite.blogspot.com/2009/08/minneapolis-police-caught-beating.html, In the Spotlite, Retrieved 9/06/2009.
(2) Investigator says gang strike force actions were 'criminal,' http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/20/strikeforce-report Minnesota Pubic Radio, Retrieved 9/06/2009.
(3) Minneapolis officer quits amid federal probe of Metro Gang Strike Force, http://www.twincities.com/ci_13227741, Pioneer Press, Retrieved 9/6/2009.
(4) Ex-Strike Force member sues Minneapolis, http://www.startribune.com/local/west/56349982.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUl, StarTribune, Retrieved 9/6/2009.
