ACLU lawyers sued a Colorado Springs police officer who used his heavy police-issued metal flashlight as a club to beat the ACLU’s client, Delvikio Faulkner, a young African American who was riding with two other young African American men in a car that had been stopped for a minor traffic violation. The lawsuit alleges that Faulkner was struck six times, including three blows to the head, which the suit alleges is the equivalent of deadly force.
The suit is based on police reports and documents from an internal investigation into the officer’s conduct. The internal investigation file was obtained by ACLU lawyers only after separate litigation under the Colorado open records laws resulted in a court ruling that required the City of Colorado Springs to disclose the file.
Colorado Springs resolved the litigation with monetary compensation to the ACLU's client.
ACLU news releases:
- "Colorado Springs sues ACLU over request for public records," ACLU News Release, June 13, 2006
- "Flashlight beating by Colorado Springs police officer prompts ACLU lawsuit," ACLU News Release, July 2, 2007
- "Settlement reached in civil rights lawsuit over flashlight beating by former Colorado Springs police officer," ACLU News Release, March 17, 2008
Media:
-
“Police told to hand over report to ACLU,” The Gazette, February 7, 2007
-
“ACLU sues former Springs police officer,” The Gazette, July 3, 2007
-
“Springs settles with man suing over police beating,” The Gazette, March 17, 2008
ACLU case number
2006-06
