JPD investigates allegations a man was roughed up - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

JPD investigates allegations a man was roughed up

Posted: Updated:
By Marsha Thompson - bio | email
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

A Jackson man called 3 On Your Side claiming he was roughed up and wrongly accused by a Jackson policeman after a routine traffic stop. Terry Curtis, an amputee, claims the officer forced him from his vehicle and would not allow him to get his crutches.

The night of June 15, Terry Curtis was blue lighted, he pulled onto a nightclub parking lot on Northwest Street. The reason, "What did the officer stop you for? He said no review mirror. Did you have one? Yes. Did you show him? Yes."

Curtis, who admitted he served prison time for receiving stolen goods, said the officer called for assistance, forced him out of his vehicle, and while trying to handcuff him, hit him with a blunt object as Tyson demanded a reason for the arrest. 

We asked this question. "He wouldn't let you have your crutches and you are an amputee?" 

Curtis replied, "No he wouldn't let me have my crutches and I got one leg. Was that difficult for you? Yes. Very difficult try hopping on one leg."

It was a confrontation that sent him to the hospital for stitches, then immediately to jail on several charges.

"He twist my arm around and when he twist my arm around, I turned around and told him he was wrong for taking me to jail for something that wasn't mine. He hit me." Curtis, who showed us a college ID from Tougaloo, claims he was innocent and wrongly arrested. "I wasn't a threat to him, I couldn't run."

The officer claimed he found part of a marijuana cigarette beside his car in the bar's parking lot. Curtis insisted it was not his. After he was stitched up at the hospital, he was taken directly to jail and his vehicle impounded.

Curtis is charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. His trial date is set for August 2.

Wednesday, Curtis went downtown and filed a complaint against the officer who stopped him. JPD spokesman Officer Colendula Green said Thursday, the matter is under investigation by the Internal Affairs Division. 

Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.