Mpls. settles police brutality lawsuit
Posted at: 02/02/2010 9:29 PM
By: Becky Nahm
The City of Minneapolis reached a settlement with a man who was seen on surveillance video being kicked by a police officer and zapped with a Taser.
The city agreed to pay Nicholas Kastner to drop his lawsuit, according to the minutes of a settlement conference held Tuesday in federal court. Specific details were not released.
Kastner sued the city over a December 2008 incident. He alleged police brutality, excessive force and a cover-up.
The video at the center of the case showed a car ram a police cruiser in a downtown Minneapolis parking ramp. Kastner was a passenger in the car.
After the crash the driver, Brian McCarthy, ran away. Kastner got out of the vehicle and laid down, apparently giving up after being shot by police. Police suspected the two men of breaking into cars.
Officer Sherry Appledorn, a 16-year department veteran, thought her rookie partner was dead, according to people who know her. The video showed Appledorn standing over Kastner. She kicked him and used a Taser twice.
A report filed by Appledorn seemed to contradict what the video showed.
Police chief Tim Dolan said he found the tape disturbing and ordered officers to change how they handle suspects.
Neither Appledorn nor another officer seen on the tape were charged with a crime.
Dolan did order Appledorn to take a 20-hour, unpaid suspension.
Before the 2008 incident, both McCarthy and Kaster had been convicted of criminal theft and damage to property. McCarthy also had a warrant out for his arrest for violating his probation.
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