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Huntington man says police used excess force
Huntington chief denies allegations, but confirms 911 dispatcher was involved
HUNTINGTON -- A Huntington man and his attorney released a video Wednesday they claim shows Huntington police officers using excessive force and brutality during an incident Saturday at a city nightclub.
After viewing the video, Huntington Police Chief Gordon Ramey II said officers did not use excessive force, but Huntington attorney David Perry is calling for the Cabell County and U.S. prosecuting attorneys to investigate.
Adonis Newsome, Perry’s client, sat in front of a television screen in Perry’s office Wednesday as Perry showed the tape to Huntington media.
"How did I make it?" Newsome asked, as the screen displayed a struggle between Newsome and uniformed officers outside what appears to be the Midnight Rodeo bar, 2127 Manchester Ave.
Perry claims six to eight Huntington police officers punched, kicked and bit Newsome after officers arrived about 3:30 a.m. Saturday to break up a fight at the bar. The video came from a surveillance camera posted outside the Midnight Rodeo, Perry said. A source that Perry did not want to name gave him the video, he said.
Ramey acknowledged that the black-and-white videotape showed Huntington police officers. The videotape shows officers punching and kneeing Newsome, 22, of 2019 9th Ave. It also shows an off-duty 911 dispatcher from Cabell County EMS repeatedly delivering blows to Newsome with a flashlight, Ramey said.
But what the video doesn’t show is Newsome punching and biting the police officers, Ramey said. Newsome says he showed no aggression.
"He was holding onto the officer’s gun belt," Ramey said. "I’m not saying he was reaching for the gun, but he had a hold of the belt while he was biting the officer."
Newsome was resisting arrest, Ramey said. "An officer has to use the amount of force necessary to affect the arrest when the suspect is fighting and not cooperating," he said.
Nevertheless, Ramey has begun an internal investigation and has asked for an external investigation by the FBI. Joe Ciccarelli, an FBI supervisory senior resident agent in Charleston, is to lead the external investigation, Ramey said.
Although Ramey does not expect the investigation to show excessive use of force, officers broke at least one policy during the incident. The off-duty 911 dispatcher, who was on a ride-along with police, should not have been involved, Ramey said.
Ramey said he would not release the names of the officers or the dispatcher involved until further investigation. The police department has a policy that anyone riding with officers must remain in the vehicle during violent or dangerous situations.
"The 911 dispatcher should not have been there in that situation, and we will investigate that and his behavior," Ramey said. "Whatever we find we’ll turn over to the prosecuting attorney’s office and let him make the call."
As Newsome talked about what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning, scabs were visible above his right eye and on his forehead. Both Newsome’s eyes also were red with broken blood vessels. He pulled his blue dress shirt off his shoulder to reveal a bite mark.
"I just remember somebody grabbing me from behind and throwing me against the wall," Newsome said. "After that, it was just punch after punch after punch."
Newsome said the struggle began when he ran into a group of police officers who were hitting his cousin, Loveil Wade. Newsome says he never punched or bit officers and that he only wanted to prevent them from harming Wade.
During the incident, police arrested Loveil Len Wade, 19, of 1701 Daulton Ave., and charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, according to a police report.
Newsome was charged with obstruction of justice and four counts of battery of a police officer. Perry said he wants to get Newsome out of the charges, but will not represent Newsome in a civil case.
Perry claims Saturday’s incident is the latest incident where Huntington police have used excessive force. Perry filed a civil lawsuit last year in U.S. District Court alleging civil rights violations against the city after his client Jermon Webb claimed officers used excessive force during his arrest.
Webb was shot after he ran from police attempting to stop and question him about shots fired in the 1800 block of 9th Avenue, according to police reports. During the chase, police said, Webb hit a bush and bounced back into an officer, causing the officer’s gun to discharge.
"There are a few rogue police officers casting a shadow over the entire force," Perry said.
Saturday’s incident wasn’t an issue of race, Perry said, but rather, humanity. Bernie Layne, an executive board member of Huntington’s chapter of the NAACP, said race was an issue. Newsome is black.
"This is a race issue, without a doubt," Layne said. "Anybody who can’t see that is blind." Layne has a Web site at http://www.policeprofile.com that is dedicated to exploring issues, such as racial profiling and violence by police.
"I hope our citizens -- black and white -- will stand up and demand action," Layne said.
Saturday’s incident points out the need for a citizen review board to evaluate police officers and punish them, if needed, Layne said. Layne expects no sanctions to come from the police investigations, he said.
"This goes to prove we need some type of policing action on the police themselves," he said.
Perry is calling for the officers involved to be suspended pending investigation. The officers’ personnel files also should be released, he said.
Neither Wade nor Newsome has filed complaints with the police department, Ramey said. Perry called going to HPD a "fruitless" process.
"We are doing an internal investigation on our own," Ramey said. "So, therefore, we’re not going to sanction any officer until the investigation is done."
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On the tape it shows the 911 dispatcher hitting the guy repeatedly in the head with a flashlight. The cops were mostly just dragging people out of the club. This is what happens when you wear FUBU to a redneck bar!
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Huntington man says police used excess force
Huntington chief denies allegations, but confirms 911 dispatcher was involved
HUNTINGTON -- A Huntington man and his attorney released a video Wednesday they claim shows Huntington police officers using excessive force and brutality during an incident Saturday at a city nightclub.
After viewing the video, Huntington Police Chief Gordon Ramey II said officers did not use excessive force, but Huntington attorney David Perry is calling for the Cabell County and U.S. prosecuting attorneys to investigate.
Adonis Newsome, Perry’s client, sat in front of a television screen in Perry’s office Wednesday as Perry showed the tape to Huntington media.
"How did I make it?" Newsome asked, as the screen displayed a struggle between Newsome and uniformed officers outside what appears to be the Midnight Rodeo bar, 2127 Manchester Ave.
Perry claims six to eight Huntington police officers punched, kicked and bit Newsome after officers arrived about 3:30 a.m. Saturday to break up a fight at the bar. The video came from a surveillance camera posted outside the Midnight Rodeo, Perry said. A source that Perry did not want to name gave him the video, he said.
Ramey acknowledged that the black-and-white videotape showed Huntington police officers. The videotape shows officers punching and kneeing Newsome, 22, of 2019 9th Ave. It also shows an off-duty 911 dispatcher from Cabell County EMS repeatedly delivering blows to Newsome with a flashlight, Ramey said.
But what the video doesn’t show is Newsome punching and biting the police officers, Ramey said. Newsome says he showed no aggression.
"He was holding onto the officer’s gun belt," Ramey said. "I’m not saying he was reaching for the gun, but he had a hold of the belt while he was biting the officer."
Newsome was resisting arrest, Ramey said. "An officer has to use the amount of force necessary to affect the arrest when the suspect is fighting and not cooperating," he said.
Nevertheless, Ramey has begun an internal investigation and has asked for an external investigation by the FBI. Joe Ciccarelli, an FBI supervisory senior resident agent in Charleston, is to lead the external investigation, Ramey said.
Although Ramey does not expect the investigation to show excessive use of force, officers broke at least one policy during the incident. The off-duty 911 dispatcher, who was on a ride-along with police, should not have been involved, Ramey said.
Ramey said he would not release the names of the officers or the dispatcher involved until further investigation. The police department has a policy that anyone riding with officers must remain in the vehicle during violent or dangerous situations.
"The 911 dispatcher should not have been there in that situation, and we will investigate that and his behavior," Ramey said. "Whatever we find we’ll turn over to the prosecuting attorney’s office and let him make the call."
As Newsome talked about what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning, scabs were visible above his right eye and on his forehead. Both Newsome’s eyes also were red with broken blood vessels. He pulled his blue dress shirt off his shoulder to reveal a bite mark.
"I just remember somebody grabbing me from behind and throwing me against the wall," Newsome said. "After that, it was just punch after punch after punch."
Newsome said the struggle began when he ran into a group of police officers who were hitting his cousin, Loveil Wade. Newsome says he never punched or bit officers and that he only wanted to prevent them from harming Wade.
During the incident, police arrested Loveil Len Wade, 19, of 1701 Daulton Ave., and charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, according to a police report.
Newsome was charged with obstruction of justice and four counts of battery of a police officer. Perry said he wants to get Newsome out of the charges, but will not represent Newsome in a civil case.
Perry claims Saturday’s incident is the latest incident where Huntington police have used excessive force. Perry filed a civil lawsuit last year in U.S. District Court alleging civil rights violations against the city after his client Jermon Webb claimed officers used excessive force during his arrest.
Webb was shot after he ran from police attempting to stop and question him about shots fired in the 1800 block of 9th Avenue, according to police reports. During the chase, police said, Webb hit a bush and bounced back into an officer, causing the officer’s gun to discharge.
"There are a few rogue police officers casting a shadow over the entire force," Perry said.
Saturday’s incident wasn’t an issue of race, Perry said, but rather, humanity. Bernie Layne, an executive board member of Huntington’s chapter of the NAACP, said race was an issue. Newsome is black.
"This is a race issue, without a doubt," Layne said. "Anybody who can’t see that is blind." Layne has a Web site at http://www.policeprofile.com that is dedicated to exploring issues, such as racial profiling and violence by police.
"I hope our citizens -- black and white -- will stand up and demand action," Layne said.
Saturday’s incident points out the need for a citizen review board to evaluate police officers and punish them, if needed, Layne said. Layne expects no sanctions to come from the police investigations, he said.
"This goes to prove we need some type of policing action on the police themselves," he said.
Perry is calling for the officers involved to be suspended pending investigation. The officers’ personnel files also should be released, he said.
Neither Wade nor Newsome has filed complaints with the police department, Ramey said. Perry called going to HPD a "fruitless" process.
"We are doing an internal investigation on our own," Ramey said. "So, therefore, we’re not going to sanction any officer until the investigation is done."
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On the tape it shows the 911 dispatcher hitting the guy repeatedly in the head with a flashlight. The cops were mostly just dragging people out of the club. This is what happens when you wear FUBU to a redneck bar!
