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Irregular News for 11.30.06
Bethlehem, PA -- A man serving life without parole for stabbing his neighbor more than 80 times with a samurai sword and setting the victim’s clothes on fire was awarded $1 by a federal jury that ruled five of the officers arresting him used excessive force.
Sonny Thomas, 50, had sought $35 million in damages. He acknowledged that the was high on crack cocaine at the time of his arrest but said he was trying to oblige police and surrender peacefully, yet was attacked. He testified that he suffers recurring migraine headaches as a result.
John Gonzalez, a lawyer for the officers, argued that the officers did everything within department guidelines. He said he filed two motions with the federal judge in Philadelphia seeking to dismiss the decision based on lack of evidence and he expected the judge to rule within a week.
Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan said Tuesday night that the officers’ actions were “truly heroic” and said he was confident the verdict would be reversed.
“Imagine the scene. They walk into a room with a burning body that has a samurai sword sticking out of it. They holster their weapons and apprehend the suspect with their hands. I don’t know too many people who would act with that restraint,” Callahan said.
But Kristina Evans, one of three attorneys from Dechert LLP in Philadelphia representing Thomas, questioned why it took 10 officers to restrain a 5-foot-6, 160-pound man.
“Five officers held him while five hit him,” Evans said.
The jury found that officers Matthew Crenko, Matthew Lazur,
David Strawn, William Kissner and Louis Csaszar used excessive force. The jury found that the other five officers named in the suit did not use excessive force. They are Jeremy Alleshouse, John Iatarola, Mark DiLuzio, Moses Miller and Ronald Brazinski.
source
Bethlehem, PA -- A man serving life without parole for stabbing his neighbor more than 80 times with a samurai sword and setting the victim’s clothes on fire was awarded $1 by a federal jury that ruled five of the officers arresting him used excessive force.
Sonny Thomas, 50, had sought $35 million in damages. He acknowledged that the was high on crack cocaine at the time of his arrest but said he was trying to oblige police and surrender peacefully, yet was attacked. He testified that he suffers recurring migraine headaches as a result.
John Gonzalez, a lawyer for the officers, argued that the officers did everything within department guidelines. He said he filed two motions with the federal judge in Philadelphia seeking to dismiss the decision based on lack of evidence and he expected the judge to rule within a week.
Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan said Tuesday night that the officers’ actions were “truly heroic” and said he was confident the verdict would be reversed.
“Imagine the scene. They walk into a room with a burning body that has a samurai sword sticking out of it. They holster their weapons and apprehend the suspect with their hands. I don’t know too many people who would act with that restraint,” Callahan said.
But Kristina Evans, one of three attorneys from Dechert LLP in Philadelphia representing Thomas, questioned why it took 10 officers to restrain a 5-foot-6, 160-pound man.
“Five officers held him while five hit him,” Evans said.
The jury found that officers Matthew Crenko, Matthew Lazur,
David Strawn, William Kissner and Louis Csaszar used excessive force. The jury found that the other five officers named in the suit did not use excessive force. They are Jeremy Alleshouse, John Iatarola, Mark DiLuzio, Moses Miller and Ronald Brazinski.
source
