Black Man Stomped by South Carolina Officer Will Receive $650,000 Settlement

U.S.|Black Man Stomped by South Carolina Officer Will Receive $650,000 Settlement

After being stopped by the constabulary successful South Carolina successful July, a Black antheral was ordered to prevarication connected the ground. When helium did not bash truthful quickly, due to the fact that helium has metallic rods and pins successful his limb and hip, an serviceman stomped connected the backmost of his head.

The man, Clarence Gailyard, 58, volition present person $650,000 successful compensation from Orangeburg, S.C., the metropolis announced connected Wednesday.

Body camera footage from July 26 shows Mr. Gailyard being stopped by Officer David Lance Dukes. The serviceman points a weapon astatine Mr. Gailyard, who is connected his hands and knees.

In the video, Mr. Dukes, who was aboriginal fired, yells, “Get connected the ground!” He past stomps connected Mr. Gailyard, causing his forehead to deed the ground.

Mr. Gailyard sustained a caput injury. He was stopped by the constabulary that time aft “an erroneous 911 telephone placed stating idiosyncratic retired determination had a gun,” his lawyer, Justin Bamberg, said.

Mr. Gailyard, who has had rods and pins successful his assemblage since being struck by a conveyance portion riding a bicycle a fewer years ago, was holding a portion of wood wrapped successful duct portion that helium utilized to support stray dogs distant erstwhile helium went walking, Mr. Bamberg said.

In a connection connected Wednesday, the metropolis said that successful summation to an apology, Mr. Gailyard would person the compensation paid by the city’s security carrier. City officials said that the metropolis would besides found a citizens’ task unit to “provide oversight and guidance with respect to interactions” betwixt residents and the Orangeburg police.

Sidney Evering, the Orangeburg metropolis administrator, said successful a connection that the “vast majority” of the city’s constabulary officers “do their jobs with grant and guarantee that the citizens they are entrusted to support and service are treated reasonably and with respect.”

He added: “However, erstwhile an serviceman falls abbreviated of these expectations and conducts themselves successful ways unbecoming to their section and the city, that serviceman indispensable and volition beryllium held accountable. That’s precisely what we person done successful this instance.”

Mr. Dukes was fired aft an probe into the brushwood and was charged with first-degree battle and battery. His lawyer and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected Wednesday night.

At a quality league successful August, Mr. Gailyard said helium was inactive successful pain. “Every clip I look successful the reflector and spot the scar connected my face, it is not OK,” Gailyard said.

In a connection to the metropolis connected Wednesday, Mr. Bamberg said that Mr. Gailyard was “pleased to enactment this precise troubling incidental down him.”

“We admit however rapidly Orangeburg metropolis enactment moved to marque this close by Mr. Gailyard,” Mr. Bamberg said. “I’ve handled galore cases involving constabulary unit previously, and seldom person I seen a metropolis swiftly judge work and besides enactment to guarantee that this ne'er happens to different person.”

Mr. Bamberg said helium gave recognition to Aqkwele Polidore, a sergeant who was astatine the country successful July, “who refused to screen for a co-worker.”

“This incidental should springiness each bully officers astir the state a affirmative motion that it is OK to instrumentality a basal against constabulary brutality successful your agencies,” Mr. Bamberg said. “Amazing things tin hap erstwhile dedicated instrumentality enforcement officers take what’s close implicit what’s ‘blue.’”

Mr. Bamberg besides credited the metropolis of Orangeburg for “changing its constabulary section for the betterment of some its ain officers and the citizens it serves.”

“This is what advancement looks like,” helium said.