U. Police cleared by panel

University and Philadelphia Police officers were vindicated on all counts in a police brutality case in federal court yesterday. Philadelphia resident Shelley Hargrove filed a case alleging police brutality against University Police officer Tracy Thomas and former officer Jaret Fernandez dating back to an incident in August 1991. The hearing, which lasted four days, was held before a two lawyer federal arbitration panel. Hargrove's family members, Thomas and a Philadelphia Police officer sat in on most of the trial. University outside counsel Joe Tucker said he was very pleased with the outcome of the case because he knew from the outset that Hargrove's claims were frivolous. "I'm only sorry the University had to go this far and in particular for Officers Thomas and Fernandez to clear their good names," he said. "We have always maintained that his suit was bogus and this proved it. The proof is in the medical records. The story is incredible." Hargrove alleged he had been stopped at 38th and Mellon streets where he was placed under arrest without any justification or cause. He was also allegedly struck on the head, neck, back, face and arms, kicked and beaten with flashlights and nightsticks. The suit alleged that he was taken to the 16th Police District where he was held for three hours without being charged with any crime. He also said that he was not provided with medical treatment after he complained of injuries. Thomas, dressed in his police uniform, testified that Hargrove had led himself and Fernandez on a high speed chase through parts of West Philadelphia. Thomas said in court that Hargove violated the law several times by disregarding stop signs, going through red signals and traveling the wrong direction on a one way street. He further testified that Hargrove appeared to be drunk, unable to walk, and was "hostile" and "uncooperative" after being arrested. He said in the hearing that Hargrove fell face first on the ground in front of a crowd of around 40 people, but added that he could see no injuries on Hargove. In his closing arguments, City Solicitor Milton Valez, the Philadelphia Police officer's attorney, said all the medical evidence proved that Hargrove was never beaten. "You won't see in any report that he was hit by a flashlight or a nightstick," Valez said. "Every doctor and every test came back with no objective proof of injury. There's no documented proof that document his subjective claims of pain." Hargrove's attorney Craig Washington argued in his opening statement that he would prove that the defendants had severely wronged his client. He said in court that he would show through medical records and Hargrove's inability to work that he had been beaten by the police officers. He added that Hargrove went to several different doctors to be treated for his injuries. Washington called a few witnesses to the stand, including Hargrove, a doctor who repeatedly treated Hargrove, and a bystander who witnessed the "beating." Hargrove testified that he suffered physical and mentally from the alleged beating and that he continues to suffer from flashbacks of the incident. "I felt less than an animal for the way they treated me," he testified. "I felt less than a man because they had taken advantage of me." The federal arbitration system allows Hargrove to appeal the decision and to have a new trial with a jury.

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