Police drop charges in police brutality case, state police investigate officer

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THURSDAY, March 12 — All charges against Uwimana Gasito have been dropped after the revelation that the East Lansing police officer who injured Gasito’s face and left eye during his arrest last month used the same violent tactic in an incident last December that was the subject of an excessive-force investigation, the East Lansing Police Department announced yesterday.

Gasito had been charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He claimed in a widely shared Facebook post that ELPD officers used excessive force on him after they saw that he was filming the arrest of his friend, Anthony Zarwea.

Officials have not released the name of the man injured in December, who lodged a formal complaint against the arresting officer, Andrew Stephenson, Jan. 3. An investigation into the December incident was completed Feb. 11, two days after Gasito was arrested. But Police Chief Larry Sparkes said he postponed a review of the investigation into the previous incident involving the same officer while police looked into Gasito’s case.

Sparkes said that after the Gasito investigation wrapped up and he looked into the December complaint he saw Stephenson on video using the same excessive tactics that he allegedly used on Gasito.

Sparkes said he made this discovery on Tuesday and immediately placed Stephenson on paid administrative leave.

Michigan State Police are now handling the investigation into Stephenson’s conduct.

“We recognize that there are things we need to do to improve our internal review process,” Sparkes said.

The ELPD said it is implementing some changes, including a review of their current use of force techniques and reporting changes that would ensure the police department is aware of all incidents involving use of force.

Videos from the December incident have not been released to the public. MSP will receive the police report and all video related to the December incident. Stephenson’s fate depends on the outcome of the MSP investigation, East Lansing Police said.

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