4 Fresno police officers indicted over 2005 assault

[Newsjock]

Source: Fresno Bee

A federal grand jury today indicted a Fresno police sergeant and three former Fresno police officers, charging them with civil rights violations and obstruction of justice in the assault of a man in their custody in October 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Indicted were Sgt. Michael Manfredi, 50, and former officers Christopher Coleman, 42, Paul Van Dalen, 44, and Sean Plymale, 41.

... The case involves the Oct. 10, 2005, arrest of Rolando Celdon in southeast Fresno. Celdon was punched and kicked, bitten by a police dog and shot with a less-than-lethal shotgun in the wake of a domestic dispute.

... The indictment alleges that Coleman used a 12-gauge shotgun to repeatedly shoot the victim with less-lethal ammunition, which consists of a flexible material that is filled with metal shot.

Coleman is also charged with driving a speeding vehicle at the victim.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/07/2109340/4-fresno-police-officers-indicted.html