May 12, 2015
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Dover Police Cpl. Thomas Webster IV, 41, was indicted by a grand jury late last week for second-degree assault, after a dashcam video released Thursday showed him kicking a black suspect in the face as the man surrendered to officers. Webster is now under arrest for his unnecessary assault.
In the video from August of 2013, Webster and another officer are seen pursuing 30-year-old Lateef Dickerson as a possible suspect in a gas station fight. The dashcam shows Dickerson dropping to the ground as instructed, then shows Webster kicking him in the face, ultimately breaking his jaw and knocking him unconscious. Webster claimed Dickerson may have had a gun, although a gun was never found on him. Dickerson was charged with assault, theft, and resisting arrest, however, all charges against him were later dropped.
Webster was put on leave in 2013 while an internal investigation of the incident was conducted, however he was placed back on active duty in June 2014.
Had it not been for the American Civil Liberties Union, the incident may have gone unnoticed. Fortunately, the ACLU sued to have the video released to the public…and won!
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“We believe that the video demonstrates the need for large-scale reform of the Dover Police Department, specifically improvements to their use of force and internal affairs practices, and supervision of their officers,” Kathleen MacRae, executive director of the ACLU of Delaware, told the News.
Interestingly, the first grand jury to examine the case failed to indict. However, a new attorney general asked for a 2nd review after taking another look at the case. It was that grand jury that found cause for further proceedings against Webster.
In a statement, Webster attorney James Liguori said “The second grand jury saw the same evidence as the first grand jury,” adding, “What’s changed is that Dickerson is suing Webster, the city and the police department in federal court.”
Good for Webster in filing a lawsuit and good for the ACLU for bringing the case to public attention!
