Teenager At Christian Heavy Metal Concert Brutalized By Police

September 7, 2005

Brock Parker of Alabama's WTVMNews Leader 9 is reporting that a teenager at a Christian heavy metal concert was brutalized by police this past Saturday night (Sept. 3).

Witnesses at The Breaker Box club in Lanett, Alabama say the teenager was calling home to get a ride when police threw him into a light pole and then onto the ground.

"I saw two Lanett police officers. One of them grabbed a young black male, head-locked him, ran him into this pole, slammed him to the ground, put their knee in his back and cuffed him," John Keith told WTVM News Leader 9.

That's when the lead singer of ONLY AFTER FAITH grabbed his video camera.

"A blow to the back of the head, and a couple of knees to the back. They finally got a little 13 or 15-year-old boy in the car," said Adrian Buice.

The video apparently shows the boy, without handcuffs, refusing to get into the car. The officer uses his nightstick to force him into the back seat.

According to police, they cannot comment on the case until an independent investigator looks into the incident.

"When his investigation is complete, if there's a violation of policy or law, then we'll take steps to address the situation at that time," said Chief Ron Docimo of the Lanett Police Department.

Witnesses say people were being pulled from their cars by the officers after trying to leave the club.

WTVM News Leader 9 asked Docimo if this was standard procedure, if the officers have been suspended, or if police cameras show anything different. He said he is not allowed to comment until after an investigation has been conducted.

For more information on this incident, read these Valley Times-News articles from writer Patrick Sands: Story#1, Story#2.

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