NJ Teen’s Family Plans To Sue Maplewood Cops For Alleged Brutality (VIDEO)

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Jason McDougall, 17, says that all he wanted to do was go home. But instead, McDougall alleges that Maplewood police officers assaulted him, subjected him to racial epithets, slammed him to the ground, sprayed him with mace, then punched and kicked him.

Earlier this week, the recent Columbia High School graduate and his family announced their plans to launch a federal lawsuit against the Maplewood Police Department in connection with officers’ controversial confrontation with large group of teens during last year’s annual Independence Day fireworks event.

• See related article: SOMA Residents ‘Outraged’ At Police Use Of Force (VIDEOS)

Following the celebration, police engaged in a standoff with what officers called “a large group of disorderly youths” who allegedly resisted arrest and refused to leave the area.

Maplewood police stated that officers were “significantly outnumbered” and were rushed by a group of individuals that had already been ordered to disperse.

• See related article: Maplewood Police Investigate Pepper Spraying Of Teens

Eventually, police arrested four teens: three from South Orange and one from Maplewood.

According to the SOMA Black Parents Workshop, a local civil rights group, officers forced several other teens from Maplewood and South Orange to march to the Irvington border after the incident, adding insult to injury.

“The youth were harassed, shoved, body-slammed, pepper-sprayed, punched and kicked as they were simply trying to return to their homes… in Maplewood and South Orange,” the group stated.

FEDERAL LAWSUIT

On Wednesday, McDougall attorney Robert Tarver Jr. announced that his client and his family plan to file a federal lawsuit against the Maplewood Police Department.

“No one should have to endure what Mr. McDougall encountered that evening,” Tarver said. “No parent should have to discover that their son or daughter was abused in this manner. Jason simply wanted to get to his home in Maplewood. The audio and video evidence shows that these officers were intent on herding these children out of Maplewood at any cost.”

Tarver added:

“The unnecessary and unwarranted use of force is clearly and plainly captured on video for all to see. There is no ambiguity or gray area in what happened here. We cannot allow the actions that everyone has seen on this video to go unaddressed. Jason McDougall is a member of this community. His parents are taxpayers. There must be accountability.”

The below police dashcam video – one of several released via an OPRA request from local news organization Village Green and Columbia High School teacher Thomas Whitaker – allegedly show officers converge on McDougall. WARNING: Viewer discretion advised.

• Full versions and other video/photo footage of the July 5, 2016 incident can be seen here.
• Read the Village Green’s full report here.

COMMUNITY OUTRAGE

On Aug. 1, the same day as National Night Out, a grassroots coalition of community groups and local youth from Maplewood and South Orange mobilized for a rally denouncing the incident near police headquarters.

The rally moved into the Maplewood Town Council meeting that night, where community members demanded the resignation of Police Chief Robert Cimino.

Maplewood Town Council members later passed a no-confidence vote regarding the chief, placing him on paid administrative leave for 60 calendar days. In addition, Capt. Joshua J. Cummis was placed on paid administrative leave until Aug. 31.

Six other members of the department have already been disciplined for their alleged roles in the incident, NJ.com reported.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: YouTube screenshot, Village Green / SOMA Black Parents Workshop

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