Video of Richfield Police Officer Hitting Somali Teen Sparks Lawsuit

A Richfield police officer is being sued for hitting a Somali teen in an incident that was recorded and shared on Twitter.

According to the lawsuit, a woman reported a situation involving least 50 Somali kids who were in the Adams Hill Park parking lot in Richfield.

The woman said she thought the gathering was possibly gang-related.

KSTP reported that the incident happened the evening of Oct. 3, 2015, at Adams Hill Park in Richfield. According to the lawsuit, Kamal Gelle, 19-years-old at the time, and his friends drove to the park to play basketball as Richfield officer Nathan Kinsey was responding to the call about gang activity.

The lawsuit says Kinsey stopped Gelle’s vehicle and told him he was called “because of you guys.” Gelle told the Kinsey he was confused and said they had just arrived at the park.

While Gelle was looking for his insurance card, Kinsey told dispatch, “They’re all lying."

Kinsey then gave Gelle a citation and said he didn’t want to see him “back in this city” that night.

After an exchange over the citation, Kinsey told Gelle to “move along” but Gelle didn’t move. The lawsuit states that Kinsey then pushed Gelle and hit him in the head.

The incident was caught on social media:

Gelle said the punch caused severe headaches, and that he received treatment from the Hennepin County Medical Center days later.

Read more at KSTP.

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