A teenager who was beaten bloody by a Parma, Ohio police officer wielding a flashlight will receive a $40,000 settlement, according to local news.
The family of the unnamed 16-year-old boy filed suit as a result of a November 2012 traffic stop, during which officer James Manzo repeatedly hit him on the head with a flashlight. The teenager was hospitalized and has lingering headaches as a result of the brutal attack, according to Cleveland.com.
The boy was being driven in a car by his father when they were pulled over by Manzo. Manzo accused the father of circling the block, but his son challenged the officer’s assertion. In response, Manzo pulled the boy out of the car, telling him, “If you want to be a smartass, come here.” (RELATED: Police allegedly beat 13-year-old kid with cell phone, broke his nose)
The teenager was placed in the back of a squad car and beaten with a flashlight, according to the lawsuit. Manzo later accounted for the blood in his car by reporting that the kid had bumped his head.
The injured kid was eventually taken to the hospital, where he received stitches for a facial contusion while handcuffed to the bed.
“I assume they were anxious to resolve this case because I think they realized patrolman Manzo was completely out of line with what he did,” said Terry Gilberts, an attorney for the family, in a statement.
There are still charges pending against the kid in juvenile court, however.
The Parma police department could not immediately be reached for comment as to whether Manzo was still on duty and employed by the department.