A report of police abuse is coming out of Gales Point Manatee. Two men were reportedly detained by officers last night, but during the course of the night, one of them says he was beaten badly. That victim also claims his sister was assaulted until she fell unconscious.
Both men are still in police custody but they may soon bring a lawsuit against the department. Courtney Menzies has this story.
Two men and a woman are accusing police officers in Gales Point Manatee of using excessive force. According to Norman Bowen, he was forced out of his vehicle for the officers to search it. That's when they allegedly began attacking his sister. And later, they reportedly began assaulting him. He explained what happened last night.
Norman Bowen, Alleges Police Abuse
"The police truck chased us and when it chased us, I saw a light behind me, and when I saw a light behind me, I pulled over by the bridge going to the beach, I pull over on the roadside and I pull over and the police jumped out with four gun and surround the vehicle. So when they surrounded the vehicle, I jumped out and told them, it's just me and two men in the vehicle. So he said he doesn't give a *obscenity* so now my sister, all of us jumped out and the police walked to the side and hit my sister in the face and my sister said, I'm a woman, and I told her leave the police alone, don't tell them anything. and she went to the truck front and the corporal made a move when she kept talking and saying she's a woman and hit she twice in her face and she passed out on the ground."
"So I took them to the shop where my friend Kizan was. They went for Williams, they didn't hit me yet, I didn't have a bruise on my body when I reached into Manatee. So how when they got him, they started beating me in front of the station, hit me on my foot, in my face, and started to beat me up and started asking me about guns, I told them I don't have any guns. After that they drive off, went to road mouth, stop again and beat me again at road mouth."
He continued to recount several other beatings he says the police levied on him, leaving him in a cast. And the other man he was with says that while he wasn't assaulted, he was threatened.
And even Bowen's sister recalled when she was knocked unconscious.
Kizan Williams, Alleges Police Abuse
"When the police came into the house, they came in aggressive, they just pushed open the spot, they came in and told me get down, everybody get down. They asked me my name and I gave them my name and they told me you're going."
"When we went out back, they drove around through the back, went out back, stopped at the Manatee police station, they beat Mr Bowen, just the officer, he just came out with the baton and hit Mr Bowen in his foot several times. and we went, drove off from there, and then we stopped at the roundabout, same thing, the officer came out and beat Mr Bowen again."
"Then they wanted to beat me, I don't know if they wanted to beat me but they called me into a corner separate from Mr Bowen and they ask me about a gun. They asked me if I ready to get hit and I told him I have no gun. Then they continued to beat Mr Bowen."
Diana Slusher, Alleges Police Abuse
"I know the police truck came behind me and told us to jump out and they told us to put. Up our hands and not to move. I don't remember moving but I remember saying what do you want with us because we're going for coconut to sell on the road? After that I just saw the man pushing the gun on me and I felt a slap and after that I don't know what happened."
The men were apparently wanted for a gun charge, but since they believe that they were unjustly assaulted, they have retained Norman Rodriguez in a possible suit against the department.
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney
"Mr Bowen was taken to the hospital but he has instructed me that he was afraid to go with the same officers because of the threats that were made against him, but yes they were detained and at this point I believe they are still detained."
"I will represent sent both young men who will be charged in the criminal trial that they will have from that and I am also representing them on a claim that, if they decide to bring that, they indicated that but I have not received confirmation but that is the indication I have from both young men and the woman."
The men have yet to be charged.
We will be seeking a response from the Police Department on this incident.
