Metro pays Mitchell Crooks $100k for beating caught on tape
The same amount Disgraced Cop, Derek Colling,
earned while sitting at home during investigation
The Metropolitan Police Department has agreed to pay $100,000 to a Las Vegas man who was beaten by a Metro officer as he shot video from his driveway.
Mitchell Crooks
The payment would settle the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Mitchell Crooks, whose video of the confrontation was named the second worst police abuse video of 2011.
Shot in April, 2010 by freelance videographer Mitchell Crooks, the 4 minute 44 second was one of the many incidents that changed the way the public viewed the The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police department.
Crooks, a freelance videographer, was taping the arrest of several juvenile burglary suspects on his cul-de-sac, when officer Colling stopped his cruiser in front of Crooks home. Although Crooks was breaking no laws and was standing in his own front yard, Colling began questioning Crooks’ residency as he quickly encroached on private property.
Thanks to Crooks standing his ground and continuing to tape the encounter, he was able to provide proof that he was beaten, and arrested by Colling without cause. Charges Colling denied prior to the tape’s release. However, once Crooks posted the disturbing video online, Colling was suspended and eventually terminated after an internal investigation determined that Crooks’ complaint that Colling used of excessive force was sustained. Colling was also found guilty of violating several other department policies, who was on paid leave during the internal investigation was paid more than $100,000 in total pay & benefits himself while he sat home.
Colling was no stranger to controversy, and had a history of making reckless decisions and acting confrontational. He had already been involved in two fatal shootings in his 5½ years as a Las Vegas police officer, including the 2009 fatal shooting of disturbed, 15-year-old Tanner Chamberlain.
Related articles
- LVMPD Reaches Settlement with Mitchell Crooks (clarkcountycriminalcops.wordpress.com)
- Fiscal Affairs Committee Approves Crooks Settlement (clarkcountycriminalcops.wordpress.com)
- Federal Jury Says Cops Can’t Arrest People for Recording Police Encounters (reason.com)
- Vegas Cops Dish Out $100,000 Settlement To Videographer They Severely Beat (pixiq.com)
