Black Soldier on Leave from Iraq Beat Down by Milwaukee Cops

Last week, Charles Michael Griffin  missed a flight back to Iraq while on leave visiting family and friends in Milwaukee. The reason is that he spent the night in Milwaukee County Jail, battered and bruised after being arrested by Milwaukee police after a disturbance near his old neighborhood on the north side. Griffin said he was out with friends Monday evening about 9 p.m. when four plain-clothed detectives showed up. He said he tried to leave but was attacked by the officers, thrown to the ground and handcuffed before he knew what was happening. Griffin admitted he had been drinking with his friends; it was a final farewell before leaving the next day to return to his unit. But he denied doing anything to interfere with the officers. "All I said was, 'Looks like it's time for me to leave,' " Griffin said. "Then they just threw me to the ground." After being arrested, he was taken by police to a hospital for treatment, then transferred downtown to jail. [more]