Officer Faces Charges for Beating Two Men With a Baton

A bit of excessive force

A Dolton police officer who hit two men outside a village nightclub with his steel baton and left without calling for an ambulance is on trial on federal excessive-force charges.

A security camera captured Officer Kevin Fletcher striking one man on the head and then walking away before turning back and hitting the man's friend too. The judge hearing the case in Chicago declined Tuesday to address a Tribune request to release the video, which has been shown repeatedly to jurors.

Prosecutors said the May 16, 2009, incident outside Mr. Ricky's nightclub in Dolton was a clear case of excessive force. The two friends, Michael McPherson, now 26, and Laurence Williams, now 28, were walking back to their car after the club closed about 2 a.m.