Security footage shows six police kicking and beating a man before setting a dog on him, despite not appearing to resist arrest

David Castellani, 20, was left with serious head and neck wounds
He is suing Atlantic City Police for using excessive force

By Ted Thornhill

A man was left needing hospital treatment after police punched and kneed him, struck him with batons – and set a police dog on him that bit his neck and head.

David Connor Castellani, 20, was charged with aggravated assault after the incident, but is suing Atlantic City police for using excessive force.

The incident occurred on an Atlantic City street in the early hours of June 5 this year.

Mr Castellani had been ejected from a casino for being under-age and the footage, taken by the casino’s CCTV system, begins with him remonstrating with police officers.

Two more officers quickly join in, with one repeatedly punching Mr Castellani in the back.

One of the policeman can also be seen hitting Mr Castellani on the back and on the legs with his baton as he lays face down on the road.

Seconds later a police dog handler arrives, identified by NBC investigative reporters as Sterling Wheaten. The policemen restraining Mr Castellani step aside and Officer Wheaten’s dog is shown being allowed to bite him repeatedly on the neck and head.

Mr Castellani was charged with aggravated assault, with the police claiming that he punched an officer and choked the police dog.

Mr Castellani’s father, an attorney who has represented police officers in the past, told NBC: ‘It absolutely horrified me. It’s been a nightmare for us. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.’

Speaking about the moment the dog unit arrived, he said: ‘Without any assessment of the situation, he releases the dog on to my son’s neck.’

Castellani suffered serious wounds to his head and neck as a result of the dog’s bites, with doctors revealing that he may never be the same, according to NBC.

Doctors revealed that he could have been killed by the dog, the father said.

Ernest Jubilee, Atlantic City Police Chief, told NBC: ‘I saw the tape and I saw no reason to suspend or remove the officers from their regular duties.’

The incident is, however, being investigated by the Atlantic City Police internal affairs unit.

NBC discovered that Officer Wheaten had been investigated 15 times over allegations of misconduct, including 12 claims of excessive force or assault. None of the complaints were upheld.

(Note: Video at link)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... icers.html

HORRIFYING! ~ and we're reading about more and more cases of police over-reaction [aka "brutality"] ~ I had a neighbor several years ago [literally in the apt next to me] who had over 20 brutality complaints against her and the PD just kept moving her from district to district ~ she was "disciplined" each time and eventually sued the PD for "discrimination" ~ the suit was settled ... with the PD paying her something like $200,000 ~ ~ it was cheaper to settle than to litigate, but that settlement "vindicated" her ~

Having had a long-time significant other who was a cop, I know how tough the job can be ~ I know there are times when cops honestly fear for their own lives ~ and I know automatic responses kick in when we're scared ~ but there is NO excuse to keep anyone with multiple brutality charges in any PD ~

Sooz

So he was outside of the Tropicana.

The dog thing was just wrong. The kid should win his suit. He was subdued, no reason for the dog to be unleashed on him.

Thugs.

There's no grey area here. I'm a police supporter too Sooz, my father is a retired cop and i grew up a police brat. But any honest cop would be appalled at this video.

He didn't run. There was no reason for these men to put their hands on him in the first place that I can see. they had him out of the establishment they wanted him out of. if he was continuing to cause a disturbance they certainly already had him in control, they could have just put him in the car and taken him in. there was no reason to force him to the ground in the first place, that i could see. let alone hit him. and all that's before they sic'ed an attack dog on him.

watching the video, you know what this reminded me of? It reminded me of a mob movie, or an episode of the sopranos. A bunch of mob guys beating up someone who owed gambling money.

Who runs the atlantic city casinos again? I wonder if these men are making a little extra money on the side, bouncing a little heavy for the casino owners.