Incident

Incident Description

On April 7th, 1974 Buffalo police officers John Wickerd and Louis Reiner beat David Battie, 32, with a flashlight. The beating caused wounds that required 28 stitches.

David went to the side door of his home, discovered he didn't have his key and was exiting from an alley en route to the front door when a flashlight focused on him. The police asked him for identification, and when he told them it was in his car the police began beating him over the head with the flashlight.

Outcome

David was initially charged with refusing the reasonable request of a police officer and resisting arrest, but both charges were dismissed. David sued the City of Buffalo and the two police officers for damages, and was awarded $4,500.