12 officers under investigation after beating of black man outside bar
Twelve police officers are under investigation for their role in the beating of men outside Nathan Bill's Bar and Restaurant in April 2015.
Twelve police officers are under investigation for their role in the beating of men outside Nathan Bill’s Bar and Restaurant in April 2015.
The Hampden County District Attorney’s Office is still investigating the incident, and details are scarce, but Paul Cumby claims that he was “assaulted by several individuals,” suffering a fractured leg and loosened teeth.
“He was clearly beaten to a pulp,” Cumby’s attorney Michelle Cruz said.
In total, twelve officers have been confirmed by the city to have received disciplinary letters. The group of officers includes some who were off-duty at the time and were accused of instigating the fight as well as responding officers who were accused of being unsympathetic upon arriving on the scene.
“Where so many officers are involved, it is not unusual that investigation process and obtaining records as well as the review as to potential criminal charges can take a long time to sort out,” City Solicitor Ed Pikula wrote in a statement. “As to the request to respond to the allegations of the individuals as you present them, the Police Commissioner has informed me that he will be relying on the Community Police Hearing Board to determine the facts of what occurred and whether there is just cause to discipline any of the officers involved.”
