Confusion turns into violent traffic stop for deaf man
April 8, 2009
FORT WORTH – A deaf man ended up with a broken nose after he found
himself in a struggle with a Fort Worth police officer.
While the incident happened over one year ago, the video that
captured it was just released.
It began with Christopher Ferrell, 43, being pulled over in his
maroon sedan for speeding.
Ferrell reached for his identification to inform the officer of his
disability.
“He is deaf,” said Paul Goetz, Ferrell’s attorney. “He is hearing
impaired.”
But, Officer J.A. Miller said he was concerned Ferrell was reaching
for a gun. Miller withdrew his gun, grabbed Ferrell, swung him around
and slammed his head into the rear windshield.
“He was trying to show his identification to the officer so that the
officer would know that he was simply unable to communicate with him
on a normal basis,” Goetz said.
Ferrell was then forced into the car.
“It did break his nose,” Goetz said of the incident. “There was a lot
of blood.”
Fort Worth police did discipline Miller over the incident.
“He was suspended for two days without pay for rough handling
Ferrell, and for bumping the back of his car,” “Miller is currently
appealing this decision.”
“This isolated incident doesn’t reflect the professional quality
service that the Fort Worth Police Department provides to the citizens
of Fort Worth,” said Sgt. Pedro Criado, with the Fort Worth Police
Department.
Sgt. Criado said officers now have access to language interpreters
who can get to a scene within 30 minutes of a traffic stop.
While Fort Worth did not admit liability for the 2007 incident, the
city decided Wednesday to pay $50,000 to Ferrell to stop a lawsuit
that could have ended with a heftier price tag.
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Source:
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090408_mo_fwtraffic.b7aeb45b.html