By Judi Lykowski, WNDU-TV (Indiana)
South Bend, IN - A South Bend police officer that is accused of using excessive force during an arrest this past September went before the Board of Public Safety all day Tuesday.
Corporal Jess Elliot is the officer who was relieved of duty with pay while police investigated his actions.
Tuesday night, Elliot’s future with the force is still up in the air.
All the facts were laid out on the table and now, the board is left to decide the verdict.
Different interpretations
The video captured from a South Bend police squad car on September 11th could be interpreted very differently.
Corporal Elliott says, “I reacted to his body movement.”
However, Anthony Wright, the victim who was subject to Corporal Elliot’s arrest said, “Officer Elliot slammed me on the grown.”
20-year-old Anthony Wright was arrested for minor consumption, furnishing a false id, and refusing to tell police his real name on September 11th.
Tuesday, while under oath he admitted guilt, but he claims he did not resist Corporal Jess Elliot who was trying to take him to jail.
Excessive force?
Police chief Tom Fautz believes Elliot used excessive force and is asking the Board of Public Safety to fire him. “In watching the entire tape, I didn’t see the suspect at anytime offer any physical resistance,” said Chief Fautz.
Therefore, he says his tactic to take Wright to the ground is unjustified.
However, Elliot offers a different opinion. “My thought or concern at that exact time was he is preparing to turn on me and assault me, or he is going to turn and run,” said Elliot.
Which is an opinion the FOP president, Sergeant Scott Ruszkowski supports. “Unfortunately we have to put our hands on people some times. It’s rough out their for the officer and for the bad guy or what ever the case may be. Unfortunately, it happened, none of us like to see it, none of us like to deal with it, but that’s what we get paid to do,” said Ruszkowski.
The Board of Public Safety will announce what action, if any shall be taken against Elliot at their next regular meeting, which will be held two weeks from Wednesday.