Page 7 - aruba-today-20190810

A7
U.S. NEWS Saturday 10 auguSt 2019

Video of Vermont woman being hit by officer prompts changes

By WILSON RING After she was taken to the
Associated Press police station, video shows
ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) — The Lawton going into a cell
chief of a small Vermont po- after Connelly apparently
lice department says he’s kicked the door. He swears
changed the use-of-force at her, punches her in the
reporting policies in the face and throws her to the
aftermath of an alterca- ground. He then said he
tion in which a handcuffed was going to charge Con-
woman was thrown against nelly with assault.
a wall and punched in the Connelly is heard repeat-
face by a sergeant who edly saying, “Why would
was later fired. you do this?”
St. Albans Police Chief Connelly has pleaded not
Gary Taylor said he did not guilty to charges of disor-
become aware of the de- derly conduct, unlawful
tails of the March alterca- mischief and simple assault.
tion until late May when he Last week, her attorney
watched footage of it that asked the court to dismiss
was requested by the Ver- the charges against her.
mont chapter of the Ameri- Before the altercation,
can Civil Liberties Union. In this March 14, 2019, image taken from body camera video released by the St. Albans Police when force was used it was
Now, Vermont State Police Department Amy Connelly kneels on the floor of a holding cell at the police station in St. Albans, self-reported.
detectives are investigat- Vt. Taylor said that policy has
ing the encounter between Associated Press now been changed so
former St. Albans police back up and tries to kick eo I was disturbed by what internal procedures were that all physical exchanges
Sgt. Jason Lawton and a Lawton, he responds by I saw and directed that followed, Lawton was fired. between officers and sus-
woman he arrested, Amy punching her in the face. there be an internal, ad- Lawton has appealed his pects, even minor ones,
Connelly. In court documents, Law- ministrative investigation firing. His attorney did not must be reviewed by the
The video, some of it from ton originally said the blow conducted,” Taylor said return a call seeking com- patrol commanders who
a police body camera, to the face was to gain Thursday in his St. Albans of- ment. will report anything ques-
shows the apparently intox- control of the situation and fice. On the evening of March tionable to the chief.
icated Connelly, 35, being that it ended her aggres- The internal investigation 14, St. Albans police were In addition to Lawton’s fir-
thrown against a wall in the sive behavior. began June 3. On June 12, called to a local bar after ing, a second officer in-
broom-closet-sized hold- But Taylor said that was not Lawton was placed on ad- receiving reports that Con- volved was allowed to
ing cell after she refuses to what the footage showed. ministrative leave. By July nelly was arguing with oth- resign. A third is facing an
sit down. When she stands “The minute I saw the vid- 1, after the department’s ers and refused to leave. internal review.q
3D printer gun plans seller

pleads guilty to sex with minor

By CLARICE SILBER the victim and her parents serve deferred adjudica-
Associated Press before reaching the plea tion probation.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The agreement. Wilson would also have to
founder of a Texas compa- “And after several months pay a $1,200 fine, perform
ny that sells plans for mak- of going through the case community service hours
ing untraceable 3D printed and talking with them and possibly attend treat-
guns pleaded guilty Friday about what they desired ment counseling. He would
to having sex with an un- and what they wished, we not be able to own a fire-
derage girl. felt that this was a satis- arm while serving proba-
Travis County Assistant Dis- factory conclusion to the tion.
trict Attorney Joe Frederick case,” Frederick said. Wilson was arrested in Tai-
said Cody Wilson pleaded Wilson’s attorney did not wan last year, where police
guilty to a lesser charge immediately respond to a say he flew after learning
of injury to a child under a request for comment. he was being investigated
plea deal with prosecutors. The recommended sen- over the allegations.
Wilson initially faced sexual tence would keep Wilson Authorities said Wilson met
assault charges. out of prison while requiring the girl through the Sugar- In this Aug. 1, 2018, file photo, Cody Wilson, with Defense
Distributed, holds a 3D-printed gun called the Liberator at his
Frederick said prosecu- him to register as a sex of- DaddyMeet.com dating shop, in Austin, Texas.
tors met extensively with fender for seven years and website. q Associated Press