Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Police In Columbus

Columbus police continue to use excessive force against residents and, in particular, Black residents nearly 20 years after the government sued over similar allegations, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the city, according to a report from CBS News. The department also fails to properly train, supervise, monitor and discipline officers who use excessive force, said the civil rights complaint filed Sunday on behalf of defendant Timothy Davis. At issue is the Sept. 1 arrest of Davis inside a Columbus convenience store where officers tried to arrest him on a warrant alleging he assaulted an officer last year. Cellphone video of the arrest showed officers struggling to subdue Davis and eventually punching and kicking him. Afterward, police spokesman Sgt. Dean Worthington said use of force depends on a suspect’s behavior and police policy does allow for punching and kicking. Officers at the scene shielded fellow officers attacking Davis to keep witnesses from seeing and tried to cover up what happened by falsely claiming Davis put them in harm, the lawsuit said.