Steven Elloie, was a bar manager, working in the Sportsman’s Corner Bar in New Orleans in July 2006. Elloie was in a rear stockroom involved in inventory control when several police officers came into the bar. They were looking for two black men at the time. There were more a dozen customers in the bar who advised the police that there was no one in the bar fitting the description of the alleged two young black men the police were looking for.
The police started to search the bar. They opened doors in the bar and one officer told Elloie he was under arrest and going to jail. Thereafter, four or five police officers began beating and kicking Elloie. Elloie was charged with resisting arrest and battery. These charges were eventually dismissed. Elloie filed a complaint with the Internal Affairs Unit against these police officers. The complaint was supported by affidavits of more a dozen witnesses. The Internal Affairs Unit found the complaint to be unsubstantiated.
The American Civil Liberties Union represented Elloie in his suit against the City of New Orleans. The suit was settled for an undisclosed sum. The problem with these types of settlements is that the offending police officers are not appropriately disciplined for their conduct. Money changes hands. The offending officers are not admonished and the public trust of the police is damaged.
If you are involved in an incident with the police where you feel that they have acted inappropriately, feel free to call The Law Offices of Schlissel DeCorpo at 1-800-344-6431 or email us to discus your case.
Picture courtesy of californiacriminallawblog.