CHICOPEE – Two Springfield police officers who were part of the November 2009 traffic stop of Melvin Jones III took the stand Thursday and said former officer Jeffrey M. Asher used the correct amount of force on Jones.
The prosecution in the police brutality trial of Asher, a former Springfield patrolman, finished its case early Thursday and the defense case began in Chicopee District Court.
Asher is charged with assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the November 27, 2009, traffic stop of Jones on Rifle Street in Springfield. He was fired by Police Commissioner William J. Fitchett but was approved by the state for disability retirement.
An amateur video of the arrest made public by The Republican and MassLive.com appears to show Jones, who is black, being held down by two officers while struck repeatedly by Asher with a large flashlight.
The first two defense witnesses were Springfield Police officers Michael Sedergren and Theodore Truiolo.
The prosecution in the police brutality trial of Asher, a former Springfield patrolman, finished its case early Thursday and the defense case began in Chicopee District Court.
Asher is charged with assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the November 27, 2009, traffic stop of Jones on Rifle Street in Springfield. He was fired by Police Commissioner William J. Fitchett but was approved by the state for disability retirement.
An amateur video of the arrest made public by The Republican and MassLive.com appears to show Jones, who is black, being held down by two officers while struck repeatedly by Asher with a large flashlight.
The first two defense witnesses were Springfield Police officers Michael Sedergren and Theodore Truiolo.
Sedergren had unsuccessfully applied for a criminal complaint charging Tyrisha Greene, the woman who videoed the incident, with illegal wiretapping.
Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet had suspended Lt. John Bobianski and Sedergren without pay 45 days and officer Truiolo for 15 days after an investigation of the Jones incident.
Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet had suspended Lt. John Bobianski and Sedergren without pay 45 days and officer Truiolo for 15 days after an investigation of the Jones incident.
On the stand Thursday, Sedergren said he yelled for fellow officers to hit Jones because he was sure Jones was reaching to take his gun out of his holster.
At that time, Sedergren said, he had an arm around Jones' neck and was holding his head down as Jones was bent over the hood of a police Ford Taurus.
Sedergren said he never saw Jones go for his firearm, but he felt Jones grab for it.
“I yelled for Officer Asher to strike the subject.” Sedergren testified.
He said he told Asher, “He’s got my f—-ing gun. Smash him.” Asher started hitting him.
Sedergren said he never saw Jones go for his firearm, but he felt Jones grab for it.
“I yelled for Officer Asher to strike the subject.” Sedergren testified.
He said he told Asher, “He’s got my f—-ing gun. Smash him.” Asher started hitting him.
“I honestly thought he was going to be able to get that firearm out of the holster,” Sedergren said.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Dunphy Farris asked Sedergren how he thought Jones could reach for his firearm, given the position he had Jones in over the hood and given the fact that Truiolo was on his right holding on to Jones.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Dunphy Farris asked Sedergren how he thought Jones could reach for his firearm, given the position he had Jones in over the hood and given the fact that Truiolo was on his right holding on to Jones.
Sedergren continued to say he was sure Jones was going for his gun.
Truiolo testified he never looked to see if Jones was going for Sedergren’s gun as the two officers held onto Jones on the hood of the Taurus.
Truiolo testified he never looked to see if Jones was going for Sedergren’s gun as the two officers held onto Jones on the hood of the Taurus.
Truiolo said he has been told if officers have a flashlight they can use it rather than drop a flashlight and get a police baton.
He said a flashlight is “a tool of opportunity.”
In several instances Truiolo said he did not remember certain things in the incident but knows they are shown on the video.
At one point he asked Dunphy Farris if she wanted him to answer a question “from my memory or from the video.”
The jury saw the video Wednesday and will have access to it when they deliberate.
The jury saw the video Wednesday and will have access to it when they deliberate.