Chicago Sun-Times
STREAMWOOD, Ill. — Stacey Bell awoke to yelling and bright police lights flashing through his bedroom window.
When the 36-year-old Streamwood man looked outside in his driveway, he saw his longtime friend Nolan Stalbaum being Tasered by a uniformed police officer.
A startled Bell ran downstairs and heard his younger brother’s panicked screams outside.
“What the hell did we do? We didn’t do anything,” Ronald Bell, 28, said as he placed his hands in the air and kneeled on the ground as officer James Mandarino ordered him to, Stacey Bell said.
Mandarino raised his metal baton. (Fast forward to 3:30 in the video) And then, as seen in the videotape recorded from the officer’s own squad car, Mandarino whacked Ronald Bell 15 times in the back, upper body and head in the early morning hours of March 28, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Ronald Bell suffered a concussion, seven stitches to his ear and multiple contusions and abrasions as a result of the alleged beating.
Ronald Bell was unarmed and there is no evidence he ever resisted or was a threat to Mandarino, assistant state’s attorney Alexander Vroustouris said today at Mandarino’s bond hearing. Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. let the bail stand at the $50,000 ordered in an arrest warrant issued on Wednesday.
Mandarino, a 16-year police veteran, was charged with official misconduct and aggravated battery. More charges are expected against the officer, who has been placed on leave, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said.
“I told him [Mandarino] he didn’t have to do this. And he just said, ‘I told him to get down,’” said Stacey Bell, who witnessed the alleged attack with his wife and two neighbors.
“He might have had a bad night or something going on in his personal life because he lost control.”
Ronald Bell had dinner with friends from work the night before he was beaten, his brother said. Afterward he and Stalbaum caught the Ultimate Fighting Championship match at a relative’s home. Ronald Bell was driving home, where he lives with his brother, sister-in-law and 2-year-old nephew when Mandarino started following him westbound on Schaumburg Road for “squealing tires.”
Ronald Bell was charged with traffic violations, including driving under the influence, and resisting a police officer, and Stalbaum was charged with obstruction of justice and resisting a police officer, according to court records. But all charges against the two were dropped, Alvarez said.
“We didn’t have the evidence to prove up the DUI,” Alvarez said.
On the video, Mandarino is seen getting out of his marked squad car and pointing to Ronald Bell with his weapon drawn, Vroustouris said.
Ronald Bell then is seen getting back into the car and sitting there for about 90 seconds. During this time, Mandarino, 41, approaches Stalbaum, 38, who had just gotten out of the passenger seat and Tasers him twice, authorities said.
At this point, Ronald Bell is seen getting out of the car with his hands in the air. Mandarino then points to the ground and after the Ronald Bell gets down on his knees with his hand behind his head, Mandarino pulls his upper body forward forcing Ronald Bell’s empty hands to the ground, Vroustouris said.
Mandarino then started repeatedly attacking Ronald Bell, Vroustouris said.
Although there is no audio on the video, at no time does the video reflect that the victim made “threatening motions toward” Mandarino, Vroustouris said.
“The video reflects that during this beating the victim is completely compliant with his hands visible and either above his head or on the ground the entire time,” Vroustouris said.
Alvarez thanked the Streamwood Police Department for informing the State’s Attorney’s Office so quickly after reviewing the video.
Streamwood police officials would not comment but issued a statement that said: “Integrity serves as the foundation of the Streamwood Police Department operations. Nothing is more important than maintaining the trust and confidence our residents have placed in us. We believe that as difficult as it is, our actions in this incident reaffirm our complete commitment to the community.”
Ronald Bell has had some trouble with the law, his brother said, adding that Mandarino had no contact with the family before. Ronald Bell received one year of supervision for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 2007, according to court records.
Alvarez said the alleged beating was “not only disturbing. It’s outrageous. It’s unacceptable.”
“It’s a wonderful tool. It’s a great tool,” Alvarez said of the video taped squad car. “Even though there is no audio on this tape, it really gave us a clear, clear view of what occurred in this particular case. It was extremely helpful.”
“If there was no videotape, it would have been a totally different story,” Stacey Bell said.
Mandarino didn’t comment after he was released around 3:15 p.m. after posting $5,000 bond.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Sun-Times