State troopers from New Hampshire and MA were removed from duty Thursday as authorities in both states investigated the beating of a man arrested after a high-speed chase – all captured on news video.
Advertisement
State troopers in two states who were caught on video apparently beating a Worcester man as he tried to surrender after a 50-mile high-speed vehicle chase have been suspended amid an investigation into their use of force.
A MA trooper, wearing a blue shirt, can be seen landing at least four punches on Simone.
‘We will conduct a separate departmental review of the actual apprehension, as the video captured by news helicopters shows a use of force against the suspect, ‘ he continued.
The Massachusetts State Police trooper has an internal hearing scheduled for Friday and that will determine if he is placed on modified duty during the investigation. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said he found the video “incredibly disturbing” and will work with New Hampshire officials in order to obtain information in order to take appropriate action.
Richard Simone, 50, appears with a badly swollen jaw, blood coming from his left ear, and marks on his right cheek and lip in the booking photo issued a day after he was filmed being beaten. Simone waived extradition and will be transported back to MA, according to court documents.
Simone was taken into custody by Nashua police, who haven’t returned phone calls seeking comment on the chase and Simone’s treatment.
McKeon and Quinn both pledged to cooperate fully with the criminal investigation. CNN reports Simone was wanted for a previous failing to stop for police, assault and battery with a risky weapon, and larceny.
The Wednesday chase wasn’t the first time Simone has eluded police trying to arrest him for the outstanding warrants. He led police on an hourlong chase that reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour before ending in Nashua, New Hampshire, after officers laid out spike strips.
The apparent violence as the suspect “appeared to be surrendering was significant”, Gilles Bissonnette, the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, told The Globe, adding that he expects an investigation “to determine whether the force used was reasonable and proportional”. Without them, many police say their ability to enforce public safety would be at risk, since offenders might believe they could easily evade law enforcement. “The core values of our state troopers are fairness, professionalism and integrity”.
The very public nature of Simone’s arrest drew a fast response from authorities in both states. “The public trust must never be compromised and I assure any wrongdoing will be dealt with in full compliance of the law and our professional standards of conduct”.
The Attorney General’s Office said it is not releasing the names of the officers involved in Wednesday’s incident “in an effort to protect the investigation”.
Advertisement
This report includes material from The Associated Press.
