Prichard Police Officer to Face Criminal Charges for using Excessive Force: Black Man's Skull Fractured
Monday, April 3, 2006 at 11:56PM A former Prichard police officer faces up to a half-century in prison and a $750,000 fine on federal charges that he used excessive force and then lied in police reports when justifying his actions. The federal grand jury in Mobile indicted Jason Hardy Hunt on Friday for his actions on March 22, 2005. Hunt was fired by the Prichard Police Department after the incident, although the Mobile County Personnel Board suggested a 30-day suspension without pay. Hunt appealed, but later withdrew the filing. Hunt is accused of using unreasonable force when apprehending James Woodard outside the Pride Stop and Save convenience store at 200 Meaher Ave. Woodard was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Those charges are still pending. While being arrested, Woodard began yelling at police for searching and handcuffing him outside the store, authorities have said. During the shouting, Hunt grabbed Woodard and threw him to the ground, fracturing Woodard's skull, authorities have said. An internal police review board found Hunt guilty of using excessive force and for conduct unbecoming a police officer. When Hunt filed his incident report, he falsely stated that "when I got between 2 to 3 feet to him, he grabbed me and tried to slam me, but I was strong enough to get my hands free around his and take him to the ground," according to the indictment. Later, when filing a criminal complaint in order to receive an arrest warrant, he made another false entry, saying that Woodard grabbed at his lower waist near his firearm, according to the indictment. Woodard, meanwhile, filed a $25 million lawsuit against the city in April 2005. Wesley Pitters, Woodard's lawyer, said he is in talks with the city of Prichard regarding a settlement to the civil lawsuit. The Friday indictment will help his case, he said. [more]