Lawsuit accuses Lexington police chaplain of punching restrained teen at Fayette Mall
A federal lawsuit has been filed against a Lexington police chaplain by a mother who says her son, who was 16 years old at the time, was punched repeatedly by the officer after being restrained, according to court records.
The civil rights lawsuit was filed by Jerrisha Reneé Coomer against the city of Lexington and Lexington police chaplain Donovan Stewart.
The lawsuit accuses Stewart of going into a “violent rage” when he encountered Coomer’s son, who is autistic, according to court documents. Stewart was responding to a report that a “group of African American teenagers were being disorderly inside Fayette Mall,” according to the lawsuit.
Video taken of the Feb. 2, 2019, incident by a bystander was shared widely over social media when it was posted by the boy’s father, Antonio Taylor, last February.
The video shows Stewart punching the boy, called A.B.T. in the lawsuit, in the face and head, according to court records. The lawsuit accuses Stewart of continuing to hit the boy after he was restrained on the floor with both hands “under control” and not posing a threat.
Stewart did not stop hitting the boy until a bystander grabbed his hand, the lawsuit said.
“Defendant Stewart mistreated and assaulted A.B.T., an autistic teenager, by using excessive force far beyond what was objectively reasonable and necessary to effect a lawful arrest, to overcome any resistance and in defense of self or others,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit seeks damages for the boy’s “bodily injuries” as well as for his mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.
In all, the suit requests $500,000 from Stewart for compensatory damages, $500,000 from the city of Lexington for compensatory damages and $500,000 from Stewart for punitive damages.
After the incident, Lexington police asked people who witnessed what happened to come forward. Of the two officers involved, one was not wearing a body camera and the other’s body camera did not record, police said at the time.
To date, no disciplinary action has been taken against Stewart regarding the incident.
“The department’s review of the incident is secondary to any matter in court awaiting adjudication,” police spokeswoman Brenna Angel said Tuesday.
In matters where there are civil or criminal proceedings, a resolution is reached in court before a formal internal review can begin, she said.
The Lexington Police Department cannot comment on the pending litigation, Angel said.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 2:22 PM.
