Dennis Lancaster Files Suit with FBI. Excessive Force?

**Thinkgoat** · October 1st, 2009, 10:41 AM

This case has spurred quite a bit of controversy here. As usual, in a smaller community, personalities are taken into account more so than principals. I know Dennis Lancaster - he's mouthy and can be a punk. However; the police department here is notorious for being full of testosterone, nepotism, cover-ups, and we have a State's Attorney who is spineless in holding anyone accountable.

Dennis was handcuffed behind a bar and kicked the officer. It resulted in Dennis being taken to the ground - his arm broken in 4 places and his face fucked up. Charges were not immediately filed against Lancaster. The officer was not injured. Lancaster has filed a complaint with the FBI...

Excessive force or warranted?

A Jacksonville man facing arrest on multiple charges stemming from a Friday night incident behind a downtown bar has been discharged from a Springfield hospital.

Dennis B. Lancaster, 27, was released from St. John’s Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said Sunday.

Lancaster was injured while struggling with a Jacksonville police officer behind Don’s Place on West Morgan Street. Police accused Lancaster of kicking an officer after he was handcuffed and being detained. The officer took the man to the ground to subdue him, resulting in injuries.

While Lancaster was at Passavant Area Hospital Friday night, he was unruly with the staff, a police spokesman said Saturday. Police were called about 10:40 p.m. Friday to the hospital because Lancaster apparently cursed at employees, the spokesman added.

Charges against Lancaster are pending, according to the police department.

Source

Dennis B. Lancaster, 27, was sought on two felony charges of aggravated battery of a police officer and misdemeanor counts of resisting a peace officer and disorderly conduct. The charges stem from an incident Sept. 4 behind a downtown bar in which he was handcuffed and detained by a Jacksonville Police officer.

The charges accuse Lancaster of “causing bodily harm to” and making “contact of an insulting or provoking nature” with Sgt. Rodney Cox when he kicked the officer. Lancaster is accused of resisting the officer and creating a disturbance at the bar.

The FBI is reviewing the incident behind Don’s Place at 207 W. Morgan St. that resulted in injuries to Lancaster’s face and arm. The federal agency has jurisdiction in civil rights matters.

Police Chief Anthony “Tony” Grootens said the FBI notified him Friday it had received a complaint and requested police reports. The reports will be reviewed along with the information Lancaster gave authorities and the FBI will determine whether an investigation is warranted.

Grootens said Cox was not injured in the incident. Lancaster was taken to Passavant Area Hospital and transferred to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. He was released from the hospital Sept. 6 and said his arm was broken in four places and that he had to have a plate and two screws put in and have his face stitched by a plastic surgeon.

Cox filed a use-of-force report, which the police department requires regardless of whether someone is injured. The report was reviewed by Jacksonville Police Department officials, who concluded Cox followed department policies and procedures. Cox said earlier that Lancaster kicked him while handcuffed, so he took him to the ground. Lancaster said he “didn’t lay a hand” on the officer.

Source

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 1st, 2009, 11:46 AM

The report was reviewed by Jacksonville Police Department officials, who concluded Cox followed department policies and procedures.

That report would be interesting to see... and what exactly are their policies and procedures.

It looks/sounds excessive but I would want to hear what/how the cops say it happened. I know they will make the cops look "all innocent", but Lancaster's side is going to do the same. Were there witnesses other than him and the cops?

Better yet would be to see how the arm was broken and an unbiased take on that. Probably get a better view of how it happened.

As for his face, every kid of mine that got stitches there had them done by a plastic surgeon. He looks like he was either smashed into the pavement or held there and squirmed. Again, he said/they said. Can medical evidence tell more?

It's excessive as presented but the presentation is a bit one sided for now.

**biteme** · October 1st, 2009, 12:44 PM

Heard of a guy beat to a pulp because he called a cop a pussy, they handcuffed him and beat him to a pulp, his word against 4 of them saying he resisted arrest, no charges against them, a whole lot against him
Some cops told a few of these stories over a few bourbons, they all thought it was pretty funny
Cops are like everyone else some good some psycho, those psycho test they give them doesn't eliminate anyone, so much for the value of psychobabalist
in the police force you have , rapist, wife beaters, molesters, abusers, so what good are psychobabalist and their test, about the same as a psychic able to fit everything after the fact with a lot of BS and generalities
Cops are a club of us against them, and we all have each others backs

**Lazlo** · October 1st, 2009, 01:30 PM

Getting any straight facts in this case will be difficult. It a community of 20,000, everyone knows everyone else. The Hospital Director attends the same benefits/social activities as the Police Chief, Judges, and Attorneys. They belong to the same clubs (Elks, Moose, Lions, Jaycee's, etc.)

And it is VERY common knowledge among the bar-hopping crowd that it is strictly "Yes, Sir, No Sir" when dealing with the police. These guy's are bored, and have to deal with the same drunks night after night. Give them lip and they will take you down. Lash out, and get the crap kicked out of you. They can be bad-ass in packs - each trying to impress the other. (But if shooting starts on the bad side of town, they are no where to be found). I'm sure this is typical of small towns across America.

Bottom line here is - don't give them a reason to fuck with you, and they will leave you alone. It may be harsh justice, but it is justice. I for one have never understood anyone swinging on (or kicking) a cop. That's just asking for it, and, unfortunately, some of the personality types that aspire to law enforcement are only too happy to bring it. It's not right, but it's the way it is, and has been for as long as I can remember.