PLATTSBURGH, NY (WCAX) – A federal lawsuit has been filed against the city of Plattsburgh and five city police officers.
The case surrounds what happened to Zachary Butchino four years ago while in Plattsburgh police custody.
Butchino, a veteran with PTSD, was arrested for assault. He says the police refused to give him his anti-anxiety medications, so he attempted suicide in the cell. That’s when he says the officers attacked him.
Butchino’s outfit is called Ofcs. Chad Welch, Adam Wood, Kristopher Minogue and Cpl. Joshua Pond. He also mentions an unidentified officer they call Mike Doe. The lawsuit charges the officers with assault, failure to intervene, and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“A really important example of the kind of casual mistreatment of detainees that occurs all too often in this country. Right away, a really serious matter and the kind of thing that, because it happens to so many people who don’t take themselves seriously enough, ”said Doug Lieb, Butchino’s attorney.
Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Read sent a statement to the WCAX News regarding the lawsuit, which says, in part: “I would like our Citizens Panel to assess what they would like to see from such an investigation. Of course, it would have been helpful Yes, this was brought to the attention of elected officials in 2017, but now we must ensure that all appropriate measures are taken. “
The police department is not commenting on the lawsuit.
Click here to read the complaint.
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