The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
A former city police officer accused of kicking a handcuffed suspect in the face was convicted of misdemeanor assault this week.
Radu Rad, 33, was fined $2,500, with $1,500 suspended, in a bench trial Thursday in Portsmouth General District Court.
Rad was one of five officers who responded to a domestic dispute call in the 200 block of Dale Drive at 5 a.m., on Sept. 11, 2008.
Officers handcuffed Anthony Epperson and placed him in the back of a police car with the door open, court files show.
Rad started arguing with the suspect, according to police statements.
"I then observed Officer Rad kick the suspect with his right foot towards the upper portion of the suspect's body while the suspect was in the back of the police vehicle in handcuffs," wrote Officer M. DeJesus.
"The suspect then stated 'did you all see that, he just kicked me in my face and I'm in handcuffs, I'm gonna get paid,'" DeJesus wrote.
When a detective interviewed Rad about the incident in December 2008, Rad said he pulled Epperson out of the police car, believing the suspect was trying to slip out of the handcuffs.
He said he "was forced to use both hands and his 'whole' body to push Mr. Epperson back into the police car," according to an investigative narrative filed in court.
Epperson wasn't injured in the incident and "waited six months before he came in for an interview," according to court papers.
Rad worked for the Police Department for three years, until 2008, said Detective John Doyle, a spokesman.
Rad voluntarily left the force, his attorney Jason Dunn said. His client hasn't decided whether to appeal, Dunn said.
Amy Jeter, (757) 446-2730, amy.jeter@pilotonline.com
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No problem here
He should have just shot him. But them you guys would be complaining that he got shot while in handcuffs...
No Victim No Crime
What the pilot did not tell you was the so-called victim did not show up to prosecute Off Rad. In all the cases I have seen if the victim does not show up to testify the court dismisses the charges. Most Judges will say if the victim does not show up they must not care about the charges. That is if it makes it that far. The commonwealth will drop most defore it is even called from the docket if the victim does not show up. I would appeal!!!!
Not to mention
the suspect never made a complaint to IA. The complaint was made by a fellow member of the PPD. Nice, way to go, another win for the bad guys. The perp in this incident nearly beat his significant other to death and continued to fight with the PD. Of course some liberal PPD member was only trying to climb the ladder on the back of one HER fellow officers. Any other person could not be convicted by witnesses alone with no victim showing up in court. Next time you want to know why the police fail to do anything when you call....remember this article.
A Question
What's the matter,Blockmann? Did she go against the "good ol'boys" and upset your little friends? She showed great courage in facing you and your boys down by doing the right thing. She's probably STILL paying for it everyday, isn't she?
unsworn
You hit the nail on the head with that one...courage? No shes a snitch and I can only hope shes paying for it. If you ever came out of your office in central records you would see there is a war going on in the streets and just like in Iraq the good guys are being limited in what they can do.
Pride
I believe the police in HR have a great deal of pride and integrity as displayed here. The arresting officer kicked the man in custody and a fellow officer made sure he was prosecuted and held accountable for a simple assault. Kudos to PPD and all other police agencies, protect us, protect yourself and continue to police each other!
Radu Rad
I believe the court favored this stupid and corrupt police officer. To kick a man in handcuffs should get some jail time.
Officer Rad
I knew Officer Rad personally, and he was a good person and a good family man. I can't speak to what happened though, because I was not there.
Police Suspect or "Fine Upstanding Citizen"
Having read some of the comments, it is clear that some people have no idea what a Police Officer faces on a daily basis. Through I don't agree with what the Officer did, he was tried in Court and convicted and fined for his actions. I just don't think it is right to judge all Police Officers by the actions of one who lost his cool. These guys deal with the human low life, which would make the average person sick. It takes a special kind of person to make his career in Law Enforcement. You have a graveyard watch, kiss your wife and kids goodbye, and thinking it will be a quiet night, some low life rips of a 7-11, and hopefully the guy responding to the call, won't catch a bullet in the head, because some fine "up standing citizen" on crack,wants to make a name for himself. If the Officer is lucky, he will see his wife and kids at the end of his watch. What that one Officer did was wrong no doubt,but he will pay for it. I, for one appreciate the guys and ladies on duty out there protecting us from other "fine Upstanding citizens" with a sheet longer then your arm. There are a lot of hard working honest Police Officers who do a helluva of job, so folks give them a break,they are a
One more thing
In no way am I saying what these citizens doing wrong is right. I'm just bringing to light what you may not be thinking of here. Sometimes as an Officer you get hung up with just locking people up because they are "bad" people. Maybe you need to change your focus and look at them as people who need help. Especially the addicts! They don't want to be the way they are....atleast most of them don't. What the problem is is their fear of the pain they are going to do through not having the drug. The withdrawls they are going to feel that they already experience everyday when they don't have the drug. Find a way to help them if they want the help. Locking them up is a start but follow through make sure they get the mental help they need as well. You can even take it a step further and continue to try to help them when they get out of jail.
Just some suggestions from the wife of an Officer who has done these things.
YOu all do a good job but when you lose focus you start to do a bad job.