Video: Detroit police officer punches MGM Grand casino patron

[Bozita]

I'm guessing this is gonna cost Detroit taxpayers somewhere in the middle six figures.


http://www.freep.com/article/20110926/NEWS01/110926049/Video-Detroit-police-officer-punches-MGM-Grand-casino-patron?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Video: Detroit police officer punches MGM Grand casino patron
6:10 PM, Sep. 26, 2011
BY TRESA BALDAS
DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER


A Livonia man accused of inappropriately touching a waitress at the MGM Grand Detroit casino is suing the city of Detroit, saying a Detroit police officer beat him to a pulp – even slugged him when he was down -- in an unprovoked attack over the summer.

And he has surveillance video to prove it, he says.

According to court records filed in federal court in Detroit, the incident took place July 30 at the U Me Drink club at the MGM Grand. Patrick Poisson, 38, of Livonia had allegedly inappropriately touched a waitress’s buttocks and would not leave the bar, so the casino’s security summoned Detroit police for help.

-snip-

Poisson says in his lawsuit that he complied with the officer’s request to leave, but that as he walked out, Dudal got in his face and threw a roundhouse right-hand punch, striking his nose, and followed with a left hook to the head, knocking him to the ground. As he lay on the ground in the fetal position, he says, Dudal slugged him again, fracturing two ribs.

Two days later, a warrant was issued for Poisson’s arrest, seeking to charge him with assault and battery on a police officer – saying he threw the first punch – and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for touching the waitress.

-snip-

more...

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. cop totally lied on police report. Didn't he realize Casinos have a million cameras.

Guess he felt like he could get away with anything. The cop needs to be prosecuted.

[Bozita]

2. And here's from the Detnews headline piece...

-snip-

On Aug. 1, Ortiz filed a warrant request to charge Poisson with assault and battery, and 4th degree criminal sexual conduct for touching the MGM waitress.

In the request, Ortiz wrote that Poisson "turned around and charged at Officer Dudal. The defendant attempted to strike Officer Dudal with his right fist but missed," according to the lawsuit. "The defendant charged at Officer Dudal a second time. Officer Dudal, in an attempt to defend himself, struck the defendant's face with his left fist. The defendant fell to the ground and was still fighting with Officer Dudal."

The officer's report failed to mention the waitress told him she didn't want to press charges, according to the lawsuit.

Mueller's client denies inappropriately touching the waitress.

more...

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110926/METRO/109260391/Patron-sues-cops-after-claiming-he-was-sucker-punched-at-Detroit-casino#ixzz1Z6qBQmaQ

[Bozita]

7. Serious Q: Shouldn't the prosecutor bring charges for lying on police reports? A felony?

[tinymontgomery]

3. This is exactly what Lawrence O'Donnel

was talking about tonight. Police feel they can get away with anything.

[toddwv]

4. So this cop just assaults a man. Sucker punches him and tries to charge him w/ resisting arrest?

I think it's quite natural and completely within the rights of the victim (the man the cops assaulted) to defend himself in this case.

"Put your hands behind your back so that I can punch you again! DO IT!!!!!"

All cops involved need to be fired but we all know that they will get a slap on the wrist and a short paid vacation.

[bluestate10]

5. I agree. All the cops involved in this fiasco should be summarily fired.

The prosecutor's office is chickenshit. The prosecutor saw the video and did not immediately file charges against the cops involved, pure chickenshit people in the prosecutor's office. Public servants, my ass.

[Gin]

6. there is a guy in the video who was a witness to the whole thing...sitting on

a bench right next to the fight...someone from the defense needs to talk with him