Sheriff's sargeant sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for punching handcuffed, seated suspect

[alp227]

From the Associated Press by way of WTMJ-TV:

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A former Milwaukee County sergeant was sentenced Friday to 18 months in prison for punching a suspect in the face several times as the man sat in the back of a squad car with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Prosecutors played a video recording of the incident during sentencing in Milwaukee County Circuit Court that showed Sgt. Scott Krause hitting Ray Calderon, who was repeatedly tapping and kicking the back window with his foot, cursing law enforcement and asking to use the bathroom.

I found this story after reading Jonathan Turley's take on it. He says: "It is very unlikely that any action would have been taken" had this incident not been caught on camera. The AP posted video of this incident http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CY6qLSZUyM&feature=related">on Youtube.

I posted last Wednesday a story from my hometown (San Jose) about the county DA dropping charges against two cops who beat and tased an unarmed college student suspected of threatening a roommate. Caught on video phone, the officers beat the student after student disobeyed orders not to follow officers. DA said: "lack of evidence".

Late last month, a New York City jury acquitted three police officers of assaulting suspect Michael Mineo, who allegedly was walking on a sidewalk and smoking pot. Mineo accused one officer of pushing a baton against his anus.

It's refreshing to see one cop get held accountable for letting himself get outta control for once. In most cases, DA either drops charges or spins a case enough to convice a jury to acquit.

[vadawg]

1. +1

[Grand Taurean]

2. K/R