Man says he was roughed up by cop, files federal suit
A 41-year-old man has sued the Taunton police, accusing an officer of physically attacking him while he was being booked on a minor charge, his lawyer said.
Attorney Howard Friedman filed the civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Boston yesterday on behalf of Joseph O’Brien.
Officer Robert Kramer arrested O’Brien on June 1, 2014, on a disorderly conduct charge, for which he was found not guilty, Friedman said in a press release. The suit names the chief and two other officers.
“At the police station, Kramer assaulted O’Brien even though O’Brien was complying with officers’ instructions and posed no threat,” Friedman’s statement reads. “Kramer yanked O’Brien’s arm around his neck, pushed him into a counter, and later pulled him to the ground.”
Friedman said Taunton police Chief Edward Walsh hired an outside expert to review Kramer’s conduct.
“When the investigator found that Kramer’s use of force was unreasonable, Walsh asked for a second opinion,” Friedman wrote. That person, too, determined Kramer used excessive force, Friedman said. A third expert hired by Walsh determined Kramer did not.
“Citing a ‘conflict among the experts,’ Chief Walsh found that Kramer’s use of force was proper and did not discipline him,” Friedman wrote. “Kramer has been the subject of at least five other complaints of excessive force, none of which resulted in discipline.”
Efforts to reach Kramer and Walsh were unsuccessful.
“Officer Kramer was out of control. He attacked me even though I was cooperating with his instructions. I’m not his first victim but I hope I’m the last,” O’Brien stated.