The city of Springfield Massachusetts has agreed to pay $575,000 to a black man whose beating by a flashlight wielding police officer was recorded by a passerby and put on the internet. WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports.
The settlement between the city of Springfield and Melvin Jones III was reached after a two day mediation session in federal court. Jones had sued the city and its police for civil rights violations and assault stemming from a 2009 traffic stop where a now ex-police officer, Jeffrey Asher struck Jones repeatedly on the face with a metal flashlight. John Liebel, a lawyer for the city, called it a good settlement.
Jones is behind bars awaiting trial on drug and domestic assault charges.. The ex-cop, Asher was convicted of assaulting Jones and sentenced last Spring to 18 months in jail.
