Iowa Officer Beats Woman Because She Appeared “Willing To Fight” . . . Police Chief Refuses To Fire Him And Says Such Things Just “Happen From Time To Time.”
jonathanturley
Davenport police are facing an outcry over the treatment of an alleged shoplifter, Brandie Redell, in custody after a videotape surfaced showing clear contradictions with what the officer stated in his report. The report states that Redell was the aggressor and the officer her victim despite serious injuries to Redell that required medical treatment. Officer Scott Crow hit Redell repeatedly because he says that the woman appeared to be “willing to fight.” It is not clear what that means but the video shows the woman seated when Crow hits her and throws her to the ground.
Crow says that Redell swore at him and “Brandies hands were clenched” and she “appeared willing to fight.” That is clearly not enough to justify such an assault. She is shown upset and agitated but sitting in the chair and crying. That is when Crow lunges at her.
Crow says that he used “two quick jabs to the side of her head”, another “closed fist strike to the side of her head to distract and disorientate” after she bit him. When that did not work, he says that he “directed her head into the back of the chair, “then decided to try some distraction strikes to the back of her head.”
Despite the contradictions found in the video and what he describes as excessive force, Davenport Police Chief Frank Donchez has refused to fire the officer. Instead, he respond “Let me ask you this, in every case of excessive force, should the officer be fired?” Many people would of course say yes, but that is not the answer Donchez is looking for. In the meantime, the County Attorney has declined to bring charges against the officer.
Donchez not only does not appear to view excessive force as a firing offense but what appears to be false statements written in a police report and during an investigation. He is quoted as saying “I’m not making excuses for the officer that deviates from policy. I’m a realist. It’s going to happen from time to time.” Well, I can see why it would happen from time to time given the response from Donchez.
