Video Shows White Cop Violently Arresting & Torturing Handcuffed Black Man to Arbitrarily En-Force Topeka’s “Parallel Parking’’ Law
/From [HERE] and [HERE] Bodycam footage has just been released of a police interaction that took place on January 23 involving a Kansas cop repetitively punching a black man till his jaw breaks while pepper spraying him to the point his face is covered in blood.
The Topeka Police Dept. released the body cam video Tuesday and the Black man, who has now filed a civil rights lawsuit.
Timothy Harris' attorney filed the lawsuit last Wednesday in U.S. District Court, naming the department and the arresting officer, Christopher Janes, as defendants. The case stems from Harris’ January 23rd arrest, in which Janes used force and pepper spray while detaining Harris.
According to police records, the Topeka police officer stopped Timothy C. Harris for sitting in his car while his car was illegally parallel parked more than 12 inches from the curb, which apparently is a serious crime in Kansas.
Topeka police officer Christopher Janes approached Harris and started asking questions. Even though Harris was fully cooperating, Janes became extremely hostile quickly.
The body cam video begins with Harris’ car stopped along the street as Janes pulled up. Harris and a woman are inside the car.
In the video, Janes is heard asking why Harris’ girlfriend keeps calling police telling them he has her stuff. Harris contended he had a Victoria’s Secret bag with her clothing in it, and Janes asked about additional claim he has her MacBook.
Janes also told Harris that his vehicle could not be stopped where he was. Harris and his passenger argued they weren’t parked because the engine was still running, and Harris had just gotten in - they were standing.
The video then shows Janes asking for Harris' identification. As Janes is heard radioing in to dispatch, Harris asked him what was going on, to which Janes replied, “You’re being detained. That’s what’s going on.”
At that point, Harris is seen taking off his jacket, reaching into his pocket, then trying to hand Janes his wallet along with another item.
When Harris started to get out of the car, Janes tells Harris to get back in the car. Janes then turns Harris to face the car and handcuffs him. As Janes tries to roughly move Harris to a patrol vehicle, Harris moves around surprised by the use of force and twists to ask Janes ‘what is doing that for?. At that point, the white cop slams him to the ground while he is handcuffed, and the woman is heard yelling at Harris, “Stop it, You cannot do that.”
Janes detained Harris without explanation and forcefully took him to the ground where he began punching him and spraying him with pepper spray, according to the federal lawsuit.
When backup officer arrived, Harris was already covered in blood with a broken jaw, according to CJOnline.
In the video the Black man is heard begging the cop to “please stop” and he says he can’t breathe over and over. The woman says ‘he can’t breathe, get off of him’ - as apparently the white cop was on top of the handcuffed Black man’s back on the pavement.
In the lawsuit, Harris claims Janes never said why he was being detained.
When backup officer arrived, Harris was already covered in blood with a broken jaw, according to CJOnline.
Harris' attorney Andrew Stroth said the video "speaks for itself and is a clear case of excessive force."
"The TPD has historically engaged in a pattern and practice of excessive and unreasonable force and the City of Topeka is liable,” he continued.
In the supervisor inquiry obtained by 13 NEWS, TPD's Sgt. Hoa Lam said Janes' actions were in line with his training. Additionally, the tactics were within the department's policy.
Following the January incident, Topeka Municipal Court records show Harris was found guilty of unlawful parallel parking, and interference with a law enforcement officer, but charges of disobeying a lawful police order and battery against an officer were dismissed.
The lawsuit, makes two counts. The first states Janes used excessive force, violating Harris' constitutional right against unreasonable seizure and right to due process. The count states Janes acted "maliciously, wantonly, or oppressively, with the intent to cause injury."
