Detroit Area Sheriff's deputy Charged in Videotaped Spraying Death of Black Man

County to pay family $4 million [MORE]
A Washtenaw County Sheriff's deputy faces up to life in prison for allegedly chasing an Ypsilanti Township man, throwing him to the ground and spraying a chemical into his mouth, killing him.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Monday that Joseph Eberle, 35, was indicted for using "unreasonable force" when he subdued Clifton "Pete" Lee Jr. on June 1, 2006, after Lee, 45, approached officers who had stopped his brother.

Two other Sheriff's employees, Deputy Eric Kelly, 37, and Sgt. Shawn Hoy, 37, were charged with using unreasonable force on Lee's brother, Bruce. Hoy also allegedly failed to stop Kelly, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Neither the three deputies nor union representatives could be reached for comment.

Kelly and Hoy face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, said Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Lee's early morning death -- captured on police videotape -- prompted Washtenaw County officials to settle a civil case with Lee's family for $4 million earlier this year.

"It's brutal," said attorney Paul Broschay, who represented Clifton Lee's family in the civil lawsuit. "They chased him down, they pinned him to the ground."

One officer, allegedly Eberle, sprayed the chemical directly into Clifton Lee's mouth and then held it closed, Broschay said. Lee, an auto mechanic and construction worker, lived about a block away and had gone to the scene to see what was happening.

"The family has long desired that the authorities investigating this incident come to the conclusion that there were crimes committed," Broschay said. "Sure, it's the right call."

Medical officials said Clifton Lee died at the scene of "asphyxiation by respiratory restriction."
On Monday, Bruce Lee recounted how he was attacked by the officers. "The way they did me was if I was on 'America's Most Wanted' (TV show)," said Lee, who is filing his own lawsuit against the officers.

Lee, 32, said he now suffers from back problems and depression as a result of the incident.
"I almost had a nervous breakdown," said Lee. "I see (police brutality) a lot. I just never thought it would happen to me."

A number of Sheriff's employees were suspended, and the three indicted officers, all white, were on paid administrative leave.

Residents of the Ypsilanti Township neighborhood where the traffic stop occurred had talked with officials, including a representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office, last summer, wondering why the probe took so long.
Beatrice McKeown, the mother of Bruce and Clifton Lee, said Monday she is happy the officers have been indicted. McKeown "only wants justice," she said.

"This was a racist thing and we are still having problems out here," said McKeown. "If one police officer stops you, seven other police cars show up for (the stop)."

Balaya said her office was talking with attorneys for the three Sheriff's employees to arrange for their arraignment.
The charges are considered a violation of civil rights that protect people from "excess force" and don't stem from the fact that the victims are African-American, Broschay said. [MORE]