COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A former Coldwater woman has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Coldwater Police and the City of Coldwater over an incident that happened at the Branch County Jail July 24, 2017.
31-year-old Tiffany McNeil claims Officer Lewis Eastmead slammed her to the floor of a secure entrance while she was handcuffed. She says she was knocked unconscious and bloodied by the officers actions.
The jail’s security camera recorded the incident which has been downloaded to You Tube.
Besides excessive force, McNeil is claiming police lied about the incident in their reports.
McNeil was brought to the jail following a domestic incident with her husband in which she consumed alcohol.
She is being represented by Detroit attorney Solomon Radner, who told WXYZ-TV “it was absolutely egregious, disgusting, thug-like conduct. You don’t expect that from police officers, and it shouldn’t be tolerated.”
Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker told reporters on Wednesday they are aware of the lawsuit adding he had not seen the video until Tuesday. Baker said they are reviewing the video and investigating the lawsuit and the allegations made in it.
