Dover Paid Out $300K For Cop Kicking Man in Jaw
Often times we bust on the News Journal, but in cases like this, the News Journal did a lot of good to get this information out in public.
The city of Dover paid $300,000 last year to resolve a federal civil rights lawsuit against a man who was kicked in the head by a city police officer.
The settlement was released to The News Journal on Monday morning after Attorney General Matt Denn’s office ruled in the newspaper’s favor following a yearlong appeal.
The lawsuit stemmed from a police dashcam video that showed Cpl. Thomas Webster IV kicking Lateef Dickerson in the head, knocking him out, in August 2013. Dickerson had run from another officer who was breaking up a fight near a Hess gas station in Dover, authorities said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware filed the suit on Dickerson’s behalf against the city and the officer who kicked him almost three years ago.
Dare say the vast majority of the $300,000 was in legal fees and court costs, Dickerson got a mere 15K if memory serves and the officer was acquitted . The acquittal astounded and disgusted me, the video clearly shows Dickerson being kicked in the head while in the act of laying down as commanded. Also remember the officer “retiring” for which I believe the city shelled out even more money. However over joyed to see this frequently far right city being taken to the cleaners as they well deserved it.
@bam: I remember when the UD paid out $1 million to theater prof Dick Aumiller after firing him for his open homosexuality. They considered it money well spent.