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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Cops Roughed Up Black Commuter, He Claims

MINNEAPOLIS (CN) - Though they never charged him with a crime, police officers used stun guns seven times on a disabled, black man riding the train, making him lose control of his bowels, he claims in Federal Court.

During the "illegal tasing" of Apollyon Kennedy-Bey on July 3, 2014, Metro Transit Police officer Emmanuel Martinez exclaimed, "You're a strong nigger," the June 2 complaint alleges.

Kennedy-Bey says he was then handcuffed him and thrown onto the platform of the 10th Street Station, where he split open his chin and was hit in the head by officers.

"The ability to safely, calmly and professionally interact with the public without rage and discrimination is an intrinsic and basic part of law enforcement," the complaint states. "During and after the events of July 3, 2014, defendants showed a complete lack of these essential skills and a disregard for the rights and dignity of the plaintiff."

Kennedy-Bey, who now lives in Atlanta, Ga., says he had been drinking before boarding the Green Line train for home, but that he was "the subject of excessive force, and unlawfully arrested without probable cause or any legal justification."

"Throughout this incident, the plaintiff continually asked 'what have I done,'" it continues. "But the officers never responded."

Martinez had allegedly ordered Kennedy-Bey to "shut up" as the latter spoke with "another black man about being a Moorish American."

After the confrontation, Kennedy-Bey says he was never returned the $523 that Martinez seized from his pocket - money that allegedly prompted the officer to ask Kennedy-Bey, who was wearing a cream-colored hat and pink-and-cream-colored shirt, if he was a pimp.

Kennedy-Bey insists he was not resisting and that he needed seven stitches for the cut on his chin.

"After being treated at United Hospital, plaintiff was then transported to the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center," the complaint states. "Plaintiff was held at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center for five days before he was released. No criminal charges were ever filed against the plaintiff."

Kennedy-Bey says supervising officer Timothy Asp later concluded the amount of force used was appropriate.

Kennedy-Bey is suing the four individual officers and the Metropolitan Council for excessive force, unreasonable search and seizure, and unlawful arrest.

He is represented by Eden Prairie-based Jennie Brown.

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