Oklahoma State Troopers Allegedly Beat Up on Deaf Man for Seven Minutes Because He Didn't Comply
Allegedly fled the scene of a car accident
Pearl Pearson is accused of fleeing the scene of a car accident in Oklahoma City, but the police who pursued him are accused of brutalizing the deaf man for not following their orders. Via KFOR:
Late Tuesday Pearl's attorney, Billy Coyle, says "My client is completely innocent of these allegations. We are waiting on the OHP report and we are sorting through the facts of the case. My client is profoundly deaf and was trying to give officers his specialty license during the stop".
He says his client, a deaf man, was brutalized at the scene, at the hospital and continued at the jail.
One neighbor said the incident is a misunderstanding by troopers that went too far.
"I know they do dangerous jobs and they put their lives on the line, but that is over the top," Sacia Law said. "It's completely unacceptable. Seven minutes of just basically beating someone?"
"Dangerous job" is a relative term, but as Radley Balko noted in his inaugural Washington Post column, "the job of police officer is getting safer. Last year saw the fewest gun-related homicides of police officers since the 19th century. Assaults on cops are dropping, too. "
State police say Pearson's case is in the DA's office, while his arrest is being reviewed "administratively." Two of the police officers have been suspended with pay.