Police Brutality Alleged

A local man is suing the Monroe Police Department for brutality tactics used against him stemming from an encounter back on April 21. According to reports, Timothy Williams was beaten by Monroe police officers after they stopped him following a "routine" check. According to Williams, he said that he was complying with officers, but became frightened when he "was surrounded" by what he said was "eight or nine" officers and ran. When he realized that an escape was futile, he surrendered, offering no resistance. Williams demonstrated to a media outlet how he was prone on the ground waiting for instructions and to be handcuffed. Williams said that he was handcuffed but things only got worse. He said that officers began striking him so much that instead of immediately taking him to jail, they had to take him to St. Francis Medical Center for treatment from the wounds that he suffered from the alleged attack. The extent of the wounds from the alleged beating has not been disclosed by the Monroe Police Department, nor has any statement been given since the incident has been made public.

Williams showed where he is missing teeth and a photo of him in the media also shows bruises/scars on his face. One of the charges brought in Williams' suit alleges that he was hit in the face by officers. Williams also said that the incident wasn't the first time that officers "put their hands on him". His lawyers are seeking body cam footage from the incident. They believe that footage from the cameras will "speak" for itself, if the police department wants to be transparent with the public. Nonetheless Williams' story is one that the community has heard more than one time concerning homeless people's encounters with police officers. Williams said that he "is somebody" even if he is homeless, not a nobody who can be misused. Williams' story also contains another element to his encounter with officers, in that according to his attorneys, one of the officers involved had been fired. It was through the Civil Service Board after an appeal, that the yet unnamed officer got his job back. It appears that the officer got justice. Now Williams wants justice and so does the community.