Beaten College Student John McKenna Will Sue Police, Lawyer Says

[Echo In Light]

The University of Maryland student whose beating was caught on video plans to sue the police officers he has accused of assaulting him, his lawyer said today.

John McKenna, 21, is still recovering from the physical injuries he received last month when he got caught up in a celebration of his school basketball team's win over Duke. Newly released video shows three Prince George's County police officers in riot gear ramming the student and then beating him with batons. Left unconscious in the street, McKenna suffered a concussion and defensive-type bruises on his arms. He needed eight staples in his skull to close his head wound, his lawyer, Chris Griffiths, told "Good Morning America."

"He's a young man ... and he's recovering from the physical injuries," he said, "but obviously there was quite a bit of emotional distress he suffered in the incident."

One officer has been suspended and authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the incident on a College Park, Md., street, which was documented in a police report that Griffiths called a "cover-up." But Griffiths said he and his client want to make sure the officers involved are held accountable in civil court.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/university-maryland-student-john-mckenna-intends-sue-police/story?id=10369269

[ixion]

1. I hope he sues the pants off them, and wins

Police brutality is an epidemic.

[Webster Green]

2. He'll be very wealthy.

The pigs should be sent to prison, but I doubt that will happen.

[GodlessBiker]

3. It is shocking that these officers have not been arrested.

[old mark]

4. As of yesterday, I heard they have not even been identified....nt

[Echo In Light]

5. ...in America?

[Flaneur]

9. No, not America. Prince George's County.

Where the cops run roughshod over the citizenry. PG cops have a well-deserved reputation for brutality. I hope a big pay-out will get the attention of PG voters.

[Subdivisions]

6. As he should. All my best to him. n/t

[tblue37]

7. Every person or entity with any responsibility for the police department need to be sued, too.

Those with the power to rein police in need to fear that they will have to pay for not controlling them. The city neds to pay and any individual who has oversight responsibility needs to pay. Then they will stop covering up for the cops who abuse citizens. Even on the rare occasions when they do punish them, they usually administer the lightest slap onthe wrist. Cops need to know that the people above them will punish them severely for such behavior--and those people need to know that if they don't, they will have to pay out their own money in damages.

[Downtown Hound]

8. He should sue the ever lovin' pants off of them

The city should pick up the tab for the officers and pay the young man his money the minute the settlement is awarded so he doesn't have to wait years for his compensation. And then the officers involved should be sent to a prison road crew to work off the amount owed to the city at the meager wage they pay inmates, and they shouldn't see freedom again until every cent of it is paid off.

That's how we should start treating police brutality and making false charges against innocent people crimes in this country. People have been treated far worse for doing a lot less. How many lives have these pieces of shit ruined during their tenure as police officers? If you have a felony conviction, you can't even get hired at Wal Mart. I hope that a serious review of these officers past arrest record is reviewed, particularly those cases where the suspect "resisted."

[aikoaiko]

10. Given the video and the obvious lies from the police report, this beating was undeserved.

I usually give the police the benefit of the doubt in ambiguous situations, but this did not look ambiguous at all.

Given the video, the only thing that could possible justify such a police response would be if he were saying he had a bomb or gun and was going to kill everyone. Of course no one is saying that.

The apparent lies from the police report about the incident may be criminal.

[Echo In Light]

11. Bump