ST. LOUIS – Rep.-elect Bruce Franks and the ArchCity Defenders legal team have officially pressed charges against the city of Berkeley and St. Louis County for excessive force during a protest in the St. Louis municipality two years ago.
Franks states in his lawsuit that while attempting to peacefully defuse a protest in Berkeley after the police shooting of Antonio Martin, police officers from the county and city of Berkeley used excessive force. He says they beat him with a police baton and used pepper spray on him. A statement from the Arch City Defenders added the injuries Franks received – among them a torn rotator cuff and a concussion – require monetary compensation.
“Mr. Franks’ case sheds light on the dangers of police power,” said Thomas Harvey, the executive director of ArchCity Defenders. “This suit challenges the tactics police use after a person has been restrained. A lawful arrest does not include kicking and beating a person in handcuffs.”
ArchCity Defenders has taken on multiple cases against police departments and townships in the Metro Area in the past two years with many of their most noteworthy cases of fighting against “taxation by citation” measures in many St. Louis municipalities. They have filed similar suits – last month, ACD filed one suit on behalf of Scott O’Rourke who states he was detained and beaten by St. Louis Metropolitan police officers.
Franks has come to prominence as a protester-turned-legislator when he made national headlines for his court case and special election victories over outgoing Rep. Penny Hubbard.
