Police officers accused of brutalizing N.Y. prisoner

Two police officers accused of beating a prisoner caught on video in a Connecticut jail.

Hartford, Connecticut Police Chief Roberts reported that authorities plan to seek arrest warrants for two officers for their connection to an alleged incident of police brutality. Two department policemen identified as Officers Rhashim Campbell and Kent Lee were under investigation for beating prisoner Michael Stewart on November 1, 2009, according to the Hartford Courant.

The investigation began after supervisors overheard one of the police officers discussing the assault, which police monitoring video had also captured, prompting the internal affairs investigation.

The two accused officers have been placed on administrative leave until the investigation draws to a conclusion. Another officer, Lieutenant Kevin Ahlquist was also placed under investigation due to the fact that he oversaw the booking area on the morning prisoner 41-year-old Michael Stewart, resident of Ridge, New York was beaten.

Michael Stewart had been charged with interfering with a police investigation and was placed in a temporary holding cell after his arrest. Officer Campbell reported to Michael's cell around 3 p.m. when he had reportedly flooded the cell with water. The police report stated that Campbell and one other cop began to move Stewart to a new cell, when Stewart resisted and struck Campbell. Campbell reported that Michael stepped back into his old cell and then became "combative" and the two officers went to restrain him, according to the police report. The police report stated that Stewart reportedly bit Officer's Campbell's right finger when he went to put handcuffs on him. A warrant for the arrest of the two officers is in process.

If you have been the victim of police brutality, an attorney can help you file a lawsuit against the police department in order to recover compensation for your injuries, pain, medical expenses, and psychological trauma. If you or anyone you know has been seriously injured or wrongfully killed at the hands of police brutality, contact a lawyer who has handled numerous cases of this nature, and knows the most proactive approach to build and present your case so that you can move forward with your life.

News by New York personal injury attorney Jonathan C. Reiter a police brutality lawyer. Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2811, New York, NY 10118. Telephone (212) 736-0979. www.jcreiterlaw.com

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