According to civil suit, RPD officers Kosch and Thomas have violent histories on the force

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Submitted by R-IMC on Thu, 2016-04-07 22:04
Rochester Police Department officers Christopher Kosch and Nicholas Thomas--the two officers that racially profiled Daryl Appleberry and brutalized Scean Gordon--were involved in another excessive use of force case that was settled before trial. The case involved these two officers and others who brutalized a man named Cardell Libbett. Kosch and Thomas are no strangers to exercising violence under the color of law.

According to the initial complaint, "on December 9, 2011, at approximately 1:35 p.m.," Cardell Libbett got out of his car on Avenue D and started to run from police. Police gave chase and he was ordered to the ground. Mr. Libbett complied and "laid face down on the ground." As he was complying, several officers, including Christopher Kosch and Nicholas Thomas, proceeded to "brutally attacked by the gathered officers." Each officer assaulted Mr. Libbett with their "hands, clubs or batons, cap shun, aerosol mace and/or pepper sprays, without justification or provocation." The complaint continues that Mr. Libbett was "also punched, kicked and struck with various objects about his head, face and body. After being handcuffed [Mr. Libbett] was tasered repeatedly while laying on the ground. Other officer and superivsing officers present at the scene did nothing to stop this assault, use of excessive force and physical brutality."

Because of the police assault on his body, Mr. Libbett "suffered cuts, lacerations, bruises, swelling and pain over his entire body. He also sustained swelling, pain and bleeding from his left eye." The complaint continues, "As a direct result of these circumstances, [Mr. Libbett's] left eye was surgically removed..."

Right before the trial was to start, Mr. Libbett and the city settled. There are no details as to what the settlement entailed.

Related: Motion to suppress statements denied in police violence case [against Scean Gordon]

 

Court docket for Libbett v. City of Rochester et al.

 

Cardell Libbett v. City of Rochester et al. (the complaint)

 

Cardell Libbett v. City of Rochester et al. (the inital response to the complaint)

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Civil Liberties / Human Rights
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Comments

Submitted by GreaterGood on Sun, 2016-05-22 22:31
Please, let's get some pictures of these police officers.
Everyone being held accountable for their action & their faces should be made public.. At least on here.