Confusion turns into violent traffic stop for deaf man<\/p>\n
April 8, 2009<\/p>\n
FORT WORTH – A deaf man ended up with a broken nose after he found
\nhimself in a struggle with a Fort Worth police officer.<\/p>\n
While the incident happened over one year ago, the video that
\ncaptured it was just released.<\/p>\n
It began with Christopher Ferrell, 43, being pulled over in his
\nmaroon sedan for speeding.<\/p>\n
Ferrell reached for his identification to inform the officer of his
\ndisability.<\/p>\n
“He is deaf,” said Paul Goetz, Ferrell’s attorney. “He is hearing
\nimpaired.”<\/p>\n
But, Officer J.A. Miller said he was concerned Ferrell was reaching
\nfor a gun. Miller withdrew his gun, grabbed Ferrell, swung him around
\nand slammed his head into the rear windshield.<\/p>\n
“He was trying to show his identification to the officer so that the
\nofficer would know that he was simply unable to communicate with him
\non a normal basis,” Goetz said.<\/p>\n
Ferrell was then forced into the car.<\/p>\n
“It did break his nose,” Goetz said of the incident. “There was a lot
\nof blood.”<\/p>\n
Fort Worth police did discipline Miller over the incident.<\/p>\n
“He was suspended for two days without pay for rough handling
\nFerrell, and for bumping the back of his car,” “Miller is currently
\nappealing this decision.”<\/p>\n
“This isolated incident doesn’t reflect the professional quality
\nservice that the Fort Worth Police Department provides to the citizens
\nof Fort Worth,” said Sgt. Pedro Criado, with the Fort Worth Police
\nDepartment.<\/p>\n
Sgt. Criado said officers now have access to language interpreters
\nwho can get to a scene within 30 minutes of a traffic stop.<\/p>\n
While Fort Worth did not admit liability for the 2007 incident, the
\ncity decided Wednesday to pay $50,000 to Ferrell to stop a lawsuit
\nthat could have ended with a heftier price tag.<\/p>\n
E-mail dmiles@wfaa.com <\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/sharedcontent\/dws\/wfaa\/latestnews\/stories\/wfaa090408_mo_fwtraffic.b7aeb45b.html<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n