Man Claims MBTA Detective Who Saved Him Then Used Excessive Force
Police maintained Thursday the detective “acted appropriately.’’
A man who was pulled back by an MBTA Transit Police detective as he fell from the platform at a T station now claims that the detective then used excessive force to subdue him. A police spokesperson said Thursday the department carefully reviewed the incident and determined the detective “acted appropriately’’ after saving the man’s life.
Detective Sean Conway was praised as a hero last May after preventing Anthony Ferrier’s fall, and a shorter video released by the department at the time shows Conway swiftly move into action as Ferrier leans over the tracks at the Park Street Station.
But a lawyer for Ferrier say that the complete footage reveals Conway, a 13-year veteran of the force, repeatedly and unnecessarily punched his client in the head, leaving him with multiple facial fractures.
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Ferrier’s attorney Howard Friedman said in a statement on his website that the full video was only made available to his office after filing a public records request — and later, a lawsuit — to compel its release.
“Government agencies cannot disclose only records that they believe reflect positively on the agency,’’ he wrote. “The MBTA’s attempt to mislead the public by refusing to provide the complete video shows the need for a strong public records law. Agencies now suffer no penalty when they violate the law. Under our current law we had to file a lawsuit and wait nearly a year to force the agency to provide records that should have been available to the public on request.’’
Friedman told The Boston Globe Thursday he will “likely pursue’’ a lawsuit against Conway and “possibly’’ one against the MBTA as well.
Both sides say Ferrier was intoxicated at the time of the incident, according to the Globe. MBTA Transit Police spokesperson Lt. Richard Sullivan told Boston.com that Ferrier was “actively resisting’’ that afternoon.
“Although we respect Attorney Friedman’s right to his opinion we disagree with his assessment of the incident in its totality,’’ Sullivan wrote in an email. “Detective Conway’s quick and decisive actions saved a man’s life. After careful review of the incident by our Use of Force Committee it was concluded Detective Conway acted appropriately. Detective Conway documented his actions via a Use of Force report and the implication the Transit Police or the MBTA attempted to mislead or deceive the public is simply incorrect. Based on potential and/or pending litigation on this matter it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.’’
Conway is held in “high regard’’ for his “professionalism and work ethic,’’ Sullivan added.
You can watch the original video below:
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