New London College Student Claims Officers’ Response During Domestic Violence Incident Led to Police Brutality: UPDATE

NEW LONDON, CT – After being arrested by police, a college student is spreading the word he was allegedly beaten by officers after coming to the aid of a domestic violence victim.

Police had said they responded to reports of a domestic violence incident in a Connecticut College residence hall Sunday. The incident led to the arrest of Lee Messier, 21, for allegedly interfering in the incident and not complying to police orders.

Messier has since retaliated with a lengthy Facebook post explaining his side of the story. The student claims he and a friend were in the room next to the incident and had come to the aid of suspected female victim.

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According to his post, the three were soon met by 12 responding officers (five campus safety officers and seven New London Police officers). Messier said the officers began acting “combatively” upon arrival.

The officers then allegedly surrounded the victim, who appeared intoxicated, and she attempted to flee down the staircase. Officers responded by “bear hugging” her and later handcuffing her.

Messier, attempting to interfere on her behalf, told the officers he did not think they should be arresting her and tried to give police information about the situation. He was allegedly yelled at several times by police to get back in his room and was soon arrested.

He further said that an officer held pepper spray inches away from his eyes and threatened to spray him with it. He also claimed to have received blows to the head from an officer's knee during the arrest and to have been kicked in the back.

Messier was arrested and held in a holding cell for three hours before being released with a misdemeanor. He has since posted pictures to Facebook of injuries received from the incident.

The department issued a statement Wednesday on their Facebook page, confirming that an internal investigation is underway in response to the incident.

"The New London Police Department is committed to investigating all complaints against its members in an open and fair manner with the truth as its primary objective. It is the policy of the New London Police Department to maintain an effective and efficient administrative system to receive, process, and fairly investigate all complaints against its personnel.

"A relationship of trust and confidence between the personnel of the New London Police Department and the citizens of our community is essential to the successful accomplishment of law enforcement objectives. All New London Police Department employees are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner as to reflect favorably upon themselves and the department," the post said.

The investigation was ordered by Chief Margaret Ackley on Sunday after being notified of "complaints of police misconduct" associated with the incident. It will be conducted by Deputy Chief Peter Reichard, and findings will be made public upon completion.

"While opinions on this incident will vary and incite emotion," the post said, "we hope that everyone will remain civil and respectful along with maintaining an open dialog with us."

Read Messier’s full Facebook post on the incident here.

Image via Facebook.