A key component of the lawsuit was a video taken by a nearby resident. Had it not been for the video, the court would've believed the police officers when they said Wright charged them and was a threat. The video also showed police kicking, stomping, and smashing Wright's head in with a flashlight-a fact conveniently left out of the official report.
According to the lawsuit, which was settled in October, police used excessive force - including chemical spray, kicks, punches - then "fabricated" a police report in an effort to "cover up" their actions.
As app.com reports, the officers would admit in court that they left out these facts in their reports.
Elizabeth Police Officer Rui Xavier admitted in court testimony he left facts out of his arrest report: Jerome Wright's hands were up in the air, Xavier struck Wright with a flashlight and kicked him.
Officer Xavier said he "oversaw" facts left out of his report when he was questioned in court and shown a bystander's video. A version of the video edited to make the police interaction clearer is at the top of this story, an unedited version is below.
Once, Wright realized that it was police in the unmarked vehicle, he immediately pulled over, according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, the officers then drew their weapons and demanded Wright exit the vehicle. But police claim Wright exited his vehicle and then charged officers, forcing them to deploy pepper spray.
Exactly what happened prior to Wright getting savagely beaten remains a mystery as the witnesses video did not start until Wright has already exited the vehicle. However, as the video shows, the 57-year-old man posed no threat and had his hands in the air, appearing to comply with everything the officers said-another fact conveniently omitted from the police report.
Comment: US Police State - All the ways you can comply and still die during an encounter with police
Wright's lawsuit claims he asked why he was being arrested, then "without warning, justification or cause," Figueiredo sprayed him. Wright "raised his hands in submission," a gesture visible on the witness' video. Then Wright was sprayed again by both officers, according to app.
However, Xavier's report stated he joined in spraying Wright after Figueiredo's burst "appeared to have no effect on (Wright)." The second spray "appeared to have angered (Wright) as he charged towards Officer Figueiredo. Officer Figueiredo was able to take Wright to the ground."
In the video, Wright does not appear to be angry. He merely appears shocked and disoriented-something that most people would feel if one minute they are driving down the road and the next they are getting hit in the face with a chemical agent.
As Wright struggled to see, he appears to stumble at which point the officers kick his legs out from under him. Wright is slammed to the ground as the officers begin their attack.
Showing just how unnecessary and excessive the use of force by the officers was, Wright took his case to trial and was found not guilty.
As for the officers who beat an innocent man and then lied about it in their reports, neither of them have received so much as a slap on the wrist and the department has refused to admit any wrongdoing.
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Facebook.
Shalom