COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – If recent comments are any indication, many Coldwater residents are viewing the Coldwater Police Department and the City of Coldwater in a negative light these days following the release of a video last month which showed Coldwater Police Officer Lewis Eastmead throwing a handcuffed woman to the ground which opened a large cut on her head.
Former Coldwater resident Tiffany McNeil filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and the police department last month over the incident at the Branch County Jail last July.
Eastmead is no longer employed by the City of Coldwater as of last Friday. City Manager Keith Baker made that announcement Friday night in a two sentence statement. Baker did not say if Eastmead was terminated or if he resigned. Baker also said that as a result of ongoing litigation, no further comment will be made at this time.
Coldwater Public Safety Director Mark Bartell has referred questions on the matter to Baker since the lawsuit was filed.
Coldwater residents Alexia Rish, Eddie Miller and Dan Corwin presented their concerns during the public comment portion of last Monday’s City Council meeting.
For those trying to present a positive image of Coldwater and Branch County, the last few months have been difficult. The video has caused a public relations nightmare for Coldwater as it was picked up by news media outlets from around the world which has led to a negative perception of not only the police department but the city as well.
On top of the Eastmead incident, there have also been sexual harassment allegations made against Branch County Prosecutor Ralph Kimble and the huge controversy in Quincy over the criminal sexual misconduct case involving former Quincy teacher Jason Ferrell.
