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Excessive force civil lawsuit filed against Gadsden Police

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

A disabled Glencoe man has filed a federal lawsuit against Gadsden Police on allegations of excessive force and police brutality.

Dennis Mitchell claims police violated his civil rights in an incident two years ago. The lawsuit alleges that in the early morning hours of Sept. 15, 2011, Mitchell went downtown to pick up his son and when he arrived, Gadsden Police were there.

Mitchell's son and his girlfriend had had a disagreement and police were called. However, they allowed Mitchell's son to go home with his father.

A few blocks down the road, police stopped the Mitchell's truck and two officers tried to get his son out of the vehicle. The younger Mitchell complied and a few minutes later, the lawsuit alleges that five more officers arrived and ordered Dennis Mitchell out of the truck.

The suit says that before Mitchell could comply, officer began to beat and kick him repeatedly. Mitchell's lawyer says at one point, officers stomped his client so hard it left a boot print on his back.

Mitchell was arrested and charged which resisting arrest and after his release, his wife took him to the hospital.

Mitchell's attorney, Adam Morel, says police used force that was excessive and unjustifiable that morning. He says his client has physical limitations and a handicapped tag registered to his truck.

"One of our contentions, when they say that tag, it should have put them on noticed that we have to find out who we're dealing with but there's a possibility we're dealing with someone disabled and we need to react appropriately to that. They didn't do that all. When he didn't move fast enough for them, not only did they not restrain him appropriately, they began to beat him up," Morel said.

Morel says it took two years to file this civil suit because he was waiting for the criminal portion of the case to be completed. However, those proceedings are still ongoing and with the statue of limitations quickly approaching for civil matters, Morel decided to go ahead and file the complaint.

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Keywords: Glencoe Al.,federal lawsuit ,Gadsden Police ,excessive force and police brutality,Dennis Mitchell ,civil rights ,

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