'Worst that I've seen,' says attorney for man bitten by St. Paul police K-9
Police released video of the incident, which shows the man screaming as he is bitten.
An attorney representing a man bitten by a St. Paul police K-9 and kicked by an officer said it’s the worst dog bite case he’s handled.
One of the officers involved is suspended and a second is under an internal affairs investigation following the June incident caught on a squad car dashcam and prompting a public apology from Chief Todd Axtell.
Attorney Robert Bennett said he will decide what legal action to take after he and his client — identified in police reports as Frank A. Baker, 53, of St. Paul — review video of the incident this afternoon with Axtell.
“He’s terribly injured,” Bennett said. “It’s an absolute abomination, what was allowed to happen to him. He didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s missing a bunch of leg tissue.”
Baker, who is black, spent 14 days in Regions Hospital after the K-9 bit his right leg several times.
Bennett said his client underwent skin grafts, and that most recently, the scar tissue started breaking open. He also suffered broken ribs and partly collapsed lungs from being kicked in the chest by an officer during the incident, Bennett said.
Bennett said he’s represented several people bitten by police dogs, but that this was, “The worst that I’ve seen.”
St. Paul police released a video of the incident Thursday afternoon, and the department’s chief publicly apologized.
“As St. Paul’s police chief, I’m disappointed and upset by what the video shows,” Axtell said in a Facebook post. “As a person who cares deeply about other people, I am profoundly saddened.”
“When I became chief, I promised to do everything possible to ensure that the people we serve have faith in their police department. I want you all to know that the video does not reflect the way we strive to do our jobs — day in, day out. This is not the St. Paul way.”
St. Paul police named the six officers involved in the June 24 incident as Brian Ficcadenti, Anthony Spencer, Joe Dick, Brian Nowicki, John Raether and Brett Palkowitsch. An internal affairs investigation is open regarding Palkowitsch, while Ficcadenti received a 30-day suspension starting Thursday, according to police.
“State law does not allow me to provide details about the complaint or the investigation,” police spokesman Steve Linders said.
Police reports released Friday show that police were called at 10:08 p.m. to the 1800 block of 7th Street E. for people armed with bats, golf clubs and at least one gun. They arrived to find several people standing outside some apartment buildings, but “none of the people appeared to be alarmed, arguing, or fighting,” said a report written by Dick. “None of the people were holding bats, golf clubs, or guns.”
Palkowitsch wrote in his report that he kicked Baker in the midsection two times while Baker was on the ground because Baker was moving around and stopped complying with Ficcadenti’s orders.
“Again I fully believed that Baker was armed with a firearm and I wanted this now progressively evolving use of force encounter on a gun call to end as fast as possible for the safety at the scene,” Palkowitsch wrote.
Baker stayed in a prone position after the second kick, and then reached toward the K-9, Palkowitsch wrote, so Palkowitsch delivered a third and final kick.
Ficcadenti removed his K-9, Falco, and Palkowitsch handcuffed Baker.
Ficcadenti wrote in his report that Baker would put one hand up and then down, and shifted “back and forth” toward his vehicle.
“Because of this I was unable to determine if he had anything in his hands or if he was reaching for anything,” Ficcadenti wrote.
Footage from the squad car released Friday show Baker laying on the ground screaming loudly as officers surrounded him and Falco gripped him.
Axtell said that after he learned of the incident, he met with the injured man and apologized.
“I assured him that a full review was being conducted and I assured him — as I assure you — that we will learn from this — and we already have,” Axtell said.
Police Federation President Dave Titus and attorney Chris Wachtler said the officers had to use force to detain the man because he matched the description of an armed suspect, and did not comply with police orders.
“It is unfortunate that he sustained injury, but there was never an intention to create injury,” Titus said. “There was only reasonable and necessary force used to take custody of the arrestee.”
According to Wachtler and Titus: The officers were responding to a “high-crime” area for a “melee” involving people with baseball bats and weapons. Officers had been told that there was a black male in dreadlocks wearing a white T-shirt who was armed with a gun.
“Ultimately, that’s what one of the officers located — a person who matched that description and failed to comply with [police] instructions,” Wachtler said.
The man refused to raise his hands where officers could see them, and he later moved them toward his back and waistband where guns are often concealed, Wachtler said.
“He would not place his hands where he was told to,” he said. “This combined with him matching the description of the suspect with a gun created a huge officer safety issue.”
No gun was recovered on the man or at the scene, Wachtler said.
Wachtler and Titus said there had been several calls to the area in the past, including shooting incidents involving victims.
Police spokesman Steve Linders said that more information and the video will be released at a news conference Friday afternoon.
“We are making this information available in the interest of trust, transparency and because it’s the right thing to do,” Linders said.
In a statement, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said he was “deeply disturbed” by the video.
“I have full faith that the Chief is handling this case appropriately and that appropriate discipline will be taken.” he said.
Damn.. I wonder where all the "good cops" were.. They must've have been some kind special discount going on at Dunkin' Donuts or Krispy Kreme...
Replies
Smh...
Not clicking that spoiler.
Enoch VI-VII
????????
America is hell on earth for a blackman.
http://www.twincities.com/2016/11/04/st-paul-police-chief-apologizes-to-man-who-officer-kicked-k-9-bit/
Bout fuckin time!!
St. Paul Pig Union head and the union's top pig lawyer speak at apropaganda press conference...