ALABAMA – Huntsville Police Department Officer Brett Russell, 48, stated in a report that a suspect Gary Wayne Hopkins kicked officers and attempted to head butt them when they were taking him to the Huntsville jail, federal officials said
Russell omitted from his report that he “had struck G.H. with his fist and kneed G.H. in the body,” an indictment states.
Two days before Christmas of 2011, another officer, Amanda Carmean, arrested Gary Wayne Hopkins on a domestic violence call. His wife had visible injuries to her face and appeared drunk, as did the husband. Officers called DHR to take the couple’s children.
Before the dashcam video starts, Hopkins had been spitting, swearing and had kicked out a window in the patrol car. Police had to put him in another car.
Two other officers showed up and made a plan to move him out of Officer Carmean’s car to Russell’s. Hopkins’ hands were cuffed behind his back, and he was relatively calm.
Video shows Russell punching Hopkins and using knee drops to subdue him.
The incident took place on Dec. 23, 2011, officials said.
Russell faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the civil rights charge and 20 years for the obstruction charge.
Russell is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Once again… If you can’t handle your job as a Peace Officer you shouldn’t be a “Peace” Officer. I saw the video and this guy should be fired and also jailed for awhile.