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It will be interesting to find out all the
facts in this case. Although we probably never will. While this little angel
probably got what was coming to him. It wasn't the officers place to beat the
crap out of him. Whether he needed it or not. "If he had a reasonable belief
that the student committed the crime, he should have arrested the student,"
Leyton said. Definitely, one time, I whole heartedly agree.
This is not an isolated incident. Many times
Flint police officers abuse their authority. Why? They are allowed to. This has
become business as usual in Flint. This is just another example of Lack of
Leadership and adequate training in the Flint Police Dept. WE NEED A POLICE
CHIEF! Not a stand in. We need accountability to the people, to procedures and
the Law. Not Police held accountable to the Mayor!
What's wrong with having police accountable to
the Mayor you may ask? Well, let me just give a simple example. When police are
accountable to the Mayor, and not the Policy and LAW! We end up with police
arresting paper boys in City Hall. Need I say more?
Police officer fired for school bus incident
Misdemeanor assault and battery charge filed
By Cathy Shafran
FLINT (WJRT) - (04/08/06)-- A Flint police officer finds himself on the other
side of the law tonight, fired for allegedly beating up a teenager while on
duty.
The officer is now charged with a misdemeanor and is off the force after law
enforcement officials watched a graphic video of the encounter.
"The officer struck the victim with a closed fist, also grabbed him about the
head, and pushed him into the bus window," said Genesee County Prosecutor David
Leyton.
The video that continually rolls on school buses was turned over to the Flint
school superintendent, who then turned it over to the police.
After viewing it, Prosecutor Leyton issued a warrant for the misdemeanor charge
of assault and battery against 40-year-old officer Andrew Gauthier, a 16-year
veteran of the force.
"The officer's employment with the department was terminated yesterday afternoon
and he is obviously no longer employed as of yesterday afternoon," explained
Flint Police Chief Gary Hagler.
Authorities say the teen was not a student at Central High. They wouldn't
elaborate about why the liaison officer was chasing the 15-year-old, other than
to say the officer believe he shouldn't be on the bus or school grounds.
But no matter what was suspected, they say there was no justification for what
happened.
"If he had a reasonable belief that the student committed the crime, he should
have arrested the student," Leyton said.
Flint School Superintendent Walter Milton agreed that this was not the type of
officer they wanted around. "Nowhere, nowhere in our vicinity. Our children
don't deserve that."
Gauthier was arraigned this morning in 68th district court and released.
A trial date has yet to be set.
The misdemeanor charges against him carry a maximum 93 days in jail and/or a
$500 fine.
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