From [HERE] The Citizen Review Board told Alonzo Grant they found two officers used excessive force and arrested him improperly. They then tried to cover up what happened.
Police arrested Grant in June after he called for help involving a dispute between his daughter and a neighbor. The charges (resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment ) against him have since been dropped. Now he's suing the City of Syracuse for police brutality and then lying about their conduct in police reports.
Due to being struck repeatedly by officers, Grant, a Black man suffered a broken nose, concussion, split lip, cut on his eye, a twisted arm, numerous cuts and serious post-concussive syndrome, including nightmares flashbacks and fear of the police department, his claim stated. His attorney, Charles Bonner also said Grant also suffered brain damage.
The incident started after Grant called police to report an argument between his daughter and a neighbor in the front yard. But when officers arrived, the dispute had ended.
An officer ordered Grant out of his house to talk to another officer. As he left, Grant opened (prosecutors say "punched") the screen door. That appeared to trigger officers to bring Grant under arrest (breaking his own screen?). "Almost immediately following Mr. Grant's action, the police decided to arrest for him disorderly conduct," the DA's office stated.
According to his attorney, Charles Bonner, Grant started walking down his front steps, an officer behind him violently, without warning, charged Mr.. Grant from behind and flung him viciously across his wrought iron railing face down to the ground. He says the second officer put on his black leather gloves, dropping his knees on Mr.. Grant's back. During the scuffle, Bonner claims one of the officers held Grant in a choke hold, pulled back his arm and struck him repeatedly in the face. [MORE]
In July Black college student, Elijah Johnson, 20, said white Syracuse cops beat him and used racial slurs against him during a wrongful arrest after a party. [MORE] and [MORE]
"It’s clear that he and his family have suffered a great injustice and I think it's time for the mayor and the police chief to recognize that and at the very least implement the recommendations of the CRB,” says Jesse Ryder, Grant’s attorney.
A report will not become public until January. Today, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said she could not speak about this specific case, but said the CRB is just one part of the city's police oversight.
"I don't tell the CRB what to do because I’m in charge of the police department, but I’m conscious of the fact that they have a role that they have to play but we all have to be respectful that they have a role to play, the police has a role, the major has a role and others do,” she said.
Grant's attorney says the CRB gave validation to the 53-year-old as he tries to rebuild his life and reputation. His lawyer says he hopes the lawsuit leads to positive changes in the Syracuse Police Department.
"In no way are we indicting the entire police department, but I think like anything else there are a few bad apples,” Ryder says.
Alonzo Grant's attorney says he would like to see the City of Syracuse develop a use of force policy for police officers, similar to those in place in New York City and other major metropolitan areas.