Man struck with police flashlight settles civil suit

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) - An 18-year-old man who repeatedly was struck in the head with a flashlight has settled a lawsuit against the city of Grand Rapids and several police officers.

MLive.com reported last Tuesday that the Grand Rapids City Attorney's office says Donovann Braswell will receive $95,000.

Braswell had filed an excessive force lawsuit stemming from an arrest in 2014 when he was 15.

Court documents say police confronted a group of teens after a 911 caller said she overheard neighbors stating they believed there was a black male in the area carrying a gun.

Braswell was caught after running from the officers. Officer Sean McCamman said in court records that he believed Braswell had a gun and struck him when he refused to show his hands.

Published: Mon, Sep 25, 2017