Witnesses: GreenvillePolice Beat Unarmed Black Man, Spit on Larry Lewis

• The Greenville NAACP is investigating an arrest at the Jesse Jackson Townhomes.

Larry Lewis, 36, is charged with assaulting a police officer while resisting arrest. But witnesses said Lewis was the one assaulted. Lewis' wife took this photo of Lewis as he left the hospital in police custody Thursday afternoon. Police said Lewis ran from a community patrol officer at the townhomes. The officer caught up with Lewis at a nearby creek, and the two started fighting. "Mr. Lewis pushed the officer into the creek, about 2-foot creek, and he fell on top of the officer. They started struggling back and forth," Lt. Mike Gambrell said. Police said Lewis kept fighting, so the officer tried to use his Taser gun to control him, but that didn't work. Lewis was subdued after other officers arrived at the scene and offered assistance. Loyd Crowe said he witnessed the incident, and said he watched the officer beat Lewis after he was handcuffed. "The policeman was spitting in (Lewis') face and calling him vulgar names," Crowe said. Greenville's NAACP President Paul Guy wants the police department to suspend the officer involved in Lewis' arrest until police can investigate what happened. "It appears from the witnesses ... there is a level there that the officer crossed over," Guy said. "So, we're going to investigate and give our recommendation to the city." Lewis is also charged with trespassing after notice, loitering to engage in drug activity and possession of drug paraphernalia. [more]

FBI, SLED Examine Alleged Police Brutality Case
A day after an alleged police brutality incident between a Greenville police officer and a man he was trying to arrest, the city of Greenville is asking for an outside investigation. An officer attempted to arrest Larry Lewis at the Jesse Jackson Townhomes just before 11 a.m. Witnesses said Lewis was thrown into a creek and assaulted during the arrest, but Greenville police officials said Lewis fell into the creek and was injured while fighting with officers. Lewis said a police officer beat him after he was already in handcuffs. "(The officer was) punching me in my face, using racial slurs, spitting in my face, pushing me down into the water of a creek at Jesse Jackson townhome area." City Manager James Bourey said Friday that the city has asked the State Law Enforcement Division and the FBI (news - web sites) to investigate the incident. The FBI investigation into the incident will be informal at this point. Bourey said the agencies are expected to interview witnesses in the coming days. "That doesn't mean we think anything was wrong, or the police officer in any way did anything wrong," said Bourey. "But there's enough question, we think that's important." The independent investigation has already started, and The Greenville Police Department is conducting its own investigation into the incident. SLED and the FBI will review material from all sides involved and interview witnesses. Greenville NAACP said it will continue to investigate what happened, without interfering. Lewis is charged with assaulting an officer, trespassing, loitering to engage drug activity, and possession of drug paraphernalia. [more]