OK Highway Patrol assault deaf man for not listening (Video)
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 01/16/2014 09:05 AM [ Comments ]
A 64 year old man from Oklahoma City, OK., was allegedly assaulted by OK Highway Patrol officers after he was detained for being involved in a minor hit and run accident. The troopers say that the man resisted arrest and did not comply with their oral instructions - the suspect according to his attorney "is profoundly deaf."
According to KFOR News Channel 4, an affidavit claims that when Pearson was pulled over along the Easter Ave. exit, just off I-40, he resisted two officers and refused to comply with repeated orders to display his hands.
The altercation lasted a full seven minutes and resulted in Pearl Pearson being transported to the hospital with facial injuries. Pearson's attorney, Billy Coyle, says that the brutalization continued at the hospital and also at the jail. He adds that “My client is completely innocent of these allegations. We are waiting on the OHP report and we are sorting through the facts of the case. My client is profoundly deaf and was trying to give officers his specialty license during the stop”.
It does not say whether the officers were aware that he is hearing impaired. But one hearing impaired group claims that Pearson had a visible sign on his door clearly indicating that he was hearing impaired.
Lt. Brian Orr, with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, gave the following statement to KFOR News Channel 4, “We can confirm the arrest and charges were filed for leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest. The case went to the Oklahoma County District Attorney and any details of this case will have to come from the DA’s office. We will review the arrest administratively and if it is determined there were violations of department policy, we will take appropriate action.”
The altercation lasted a full seven minutes and resulted in Pearl Pearson being transported to the hospital with facial injuries. Pearson's attorney, Billy Coyle, says that the brutalization continued at the hospital and also at the jail. He adds that “My client is completely innocent of these allegations. We are waiting on the OHP report and we are sorting through the facts of the case. My client is profoundly deaf and was trying to give officers his specialty license during the stop”.
It does not say whether the officers were aware that he is hearing impaired. But one hearing impaired group claims that Pearson had a visible sign on his door clearly indicating that he was hearing impaired.
Lt. Brian Orr, with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, gave the following statement to KFOR News Channel 4, “We can confirm the arrest and charges were filed for leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest. The case went to the Oklahoma County District Attorney and any details of this case will have to come from the DA’s office. We will review the arrest administratively and if it is determined there were violations of department policy, we will take appropriate action.”
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