Caught on tape: Cop assaults 15-year-old special needs student

By Stephen C. Webster
Thursday, October 8th, 2009 -- 8:18 pm
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UPDATE (at bottom): Cop who assaulted teen now in jail on rape charge; shot ex-wife's new husband 24 times in 'self defense'

marshawnpitts cbsphoto Caught on tape: Cop assaults 15 year old special needs studentFor the offense of not having his shirt tucked in, 15-year-old special needs student Marshawn Pitts was slammed into a wall of lockers and pounded repeatedly in the face by a police officer who broke the boy's nose and bloodied his mouth.

The Dolton, Illinois teen told a local CBS affiliate that the officer was cursing at him as he complied with the order to tuck in his shirt. Then, "it was just like, boom!" he said.

The assault, which took place in May, was recorded on a security camera at the Chicago suburb's Academy for Learning.

"The academy is a high school for special-needs students who are emotionally disturbed or struggle with behavioral disorders," noted Chicago Breaking News. "Marshawn was a student there because he suffered brain injuries when he was hit by a car years ago, [family attorney Edward] Manzke said."

Story continues below...

copassaults15yearold Caught on tape: Cop assaults 15 year old special needs studentDuring the recording, the officer stoops down and places a cup of coffee on the floor, then threw the teen into the lockers before pummeling him and pinning him to the floor in a maneuver known as the "face-down take-down."

"Zena Naiditch of Equip for Equality, a legal advocacy group that fights for the rights of people with disabilities, looked at the video and said the type of physical restraint used by the officer has killed students," CBS News reported.

Naiditch added that the hold can be lethal because those trapped by it are left unable to breathe. CBS noted that seven states currently prohibit officers from using the "face-down take-down."

The officer has not been identified, but due to the filmed evidence of the assault he has been terminated from the force.

Manzke told WBBM News Radio 780 that Marshawn has since transferred to a new school and the family is planning to file a lawsuit.

This video is from CBS 2 in Chicago, broadcast Oct. 7, 2009.

UPDATE: Cop who assaulted teen now in jail on rape charge; shot ex-wife's new husband 24 times in 'self defense'

christopherlloyd Caught on tape: Cop assaults 15 year old special needs studentThe officer who brutally beat special needs student Marshawn Pitts has been identified as 38-year-old Christopher Lloyd, according to Chicago Breaking News, which spoke to Lloyd's father.

The news agency reported that Lloyd is currently in jail after being charged with the rape of a woman he knew and is facing a 20-year sentence should he be convicted.

The Chicago Tribune-backed service adds: "A lawsuit filed by his ex-wife, Nicole McKinney, last summer alleges he gunned down her new husband Cornel McKinney in front of their children outside their home on the 6100 block of South Langley Avenue on Feb. 17, 2008."

An autopsy revealed Lloyd shot the man 24 times, the agency found. He was not jailed at the time as Chicago police accepted his explanation that the killing was in self-defense.

Lloyd also reportedly told his father that the boy he was filmed assaulting had a history of behavioral problems and had cursed at him when told to tuck in his shirt.

Image sample credit: CBS News.

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Story comments are below...
  • philedrifter
    Oh yeah, also test him pronto for steroids. I've had a subscription to Men's Health for at least 5 years and one month they did an article on 'juicers,' law enforcement/security who use steroids, they said it's more secretive than even (other) drug dealing/using, fellow officers on the same force don't even know, but they speculate that at least 25% of US law enforcement uses them. (I understand that this guy was not law enforcement but was hired security. They probably have even less oversight than police departments, though.)
  • philedrifter
    I'm just wondering why my first comment got deleted. I know I stared my 2nd post with the 'oh yeah i forgot, men's health did a study on pigs who juice,' above.
  • farang
    You know folks, I can't help but get this feeling that article like this (as horrid as it may be) are to distract us from the rapid disappearance of the article posted @ 12 hours ago of the Dems approving the "Bunker Busting" WMD.....and how Raw had no comment section on that article.....

    Ya know? See it anywhere???
  • bgen
    Ummm... "bunker busters" are NOT WMD's genius. Do some research before writing about military matters. While some bunker busters in development were low-yield tac-nukes, they were never deployed because of prohibitions on tactical nuclear weapons. None of that particular flavor were greater than 5 megatons. the current ones in use do not employ nuclear, chemical, or biological agents, cannot cause "mass destruction," and therefore, the use of the WMD label is ignorant. Read more, speak less.
  • philedrifter
    Lloyd also reportedly told his father that the boy he was filmed assaulting had a history of behavioral problems and had cursed at him when told to tuck in his shirt.

    This is in no way an excuse for brutally assaulting someone who is probably 1/3 your weight and weaponless, while you are armed to the teeth.
  • Savantster
    .
    and has brain damage from being hit by a car..
    .
  • jules123
    This man is a killer, lock him up, if they don't .,then there will be death in his future.
  • philedrifter
    So I don't care if his employer fired him, they need to release his name to the authorities along with the footage so he can be brought to trial. Most likely he'll take the first plea bargain they offer them since he's guilty as sin.
  • malikk
    how did this motherfucker pass the psychological exam to become a police officer can someone tell please
  • djsmelko
    With the kind of people they want for law enforcement he probably passed with flying colors.
  • Unfortunately, this guy is EXACTLY what police forces are looking for. For most agencies (with the exception of polices forces which require a college education - few and far between), all you need to be a cop is to have a high school degree and say you've never smoked marijuana. (Former prosecutor)
  • kucinich2012
    I don't think there even IS a psychological exam! Take a look around at the actions of the Pigs!!! Most inferiority-complexed, sociopathic, BEASTS starving for power, which they act out as ABUSERS!!!
  • bobnoxious
    24 rounds? Since service pistols don't come with a 24 round clip, he had to have emptied one clip, then reloaded and emptied (or nearly emptied) a second clip. Then the other cops and Cook County prosecutors actually believe "self defense"?

    All cops are corrupt. The ones who don't commit violent crimes cover-up for their buddies who do. The Blue Code of Silence is very real.
  • nix73
    Being this angry about how you screwed up your life is the worlds fault? I would be shocked if he is registered anything but Republican. Most cops are Republicans because they think voting against their best interest is the best thing to do like most Republicans...
  • raptorcaptn
    What does political affiliation have to do with this cop beating a kid for not tucking in his shirt? I don't understand your comment.
  • musedgirl
    Oh... CLEARLY. Honestly, who wouldn't draw that conclusion? I'm surprised he could stop drooling and crapping himself long enough to do any of these things. Stupid, horrid Republican. They all deserve death.
  • Thomas Jefferson
    yet another example of our nations "finest". They will love this stupid bastard in jail. I think he looks like a "tina".
  • Margaret
    THIS is why recruiting police from the military is almost always a bad idea. Cops are no longer there to protect and to serve. Their attitude now is uniformly us against them, we being the them.
  • 911truthguy
    Another example of "criminals with badges". I hope that this "police officer" is fired from his job and brought up on assault charges!
  • bigdog1271
    Holy crap, what a fucking piece of shit? I hope his cell mate fucks his ass hard.
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