March 29, 2024
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Westbrook officers cleared in excessive force suit

PORTLAND – Two Westbrook police officers were cleared Wednesday on civil charges that they used excessive force and filed a false arrest report when they arrested a 48-year-old man three years ago.

A federal court jury deliberated for more than five hours before finding in favor of Sgt. Stephen Lyons and Detective Sean Lally.

Christopher Wilson had accused police of roughing him up and charging him with a crime he did not commit when he did not submit to what he said was unreasonable questioning. The officers said it was Wilson who attacked them, and they only used the force necessary to control him.

The trial became a test of credibility between Wilson and the officers, and as Edward Benjamin, the officers’ defense lawyer told the jury, “Somebody’s not telling the truth.”

The suit stemmed from an altercation Sept. 21, 2000, when Lyons and Lally questioned Wilson about a missing ATV, according to testimony in the two-day trial. The owner of the ATV told police he thought Wilson, a co-worker, was responsible.

After the two detectives introduced themselves to Wilson behind the Dead River Co. building in Westbrook where he worked, Lyons asked Wilson to sit down on a propane tank. Lyons then exaggerated the evidence to see Wilson’s reaction and told him that a witness reported seeing Wilson with the stolen vehicle.

What happened next is in dispute.

Wilson testified that he jumped to his feet and used profanity and called the police officer a liar. He said the two officers grabbed him and threw him to the ground, pounded him on his back and ordered him to “show me some respect.”

But Lyons testified that Wilson, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, “flipped out” and lunged at them with his fist cocked, shouting profanity and pointing his finger at him.

It was then that Lally grabbed and knocked Wilson to the ground, and both officers wrestled him into handcuffs, according to testimony.

Wilson was later found innocent of all charges in connection with the arrest. He was never charged with stealing the ATV.

Thomas Connolly, Wilson’s lawyer, said the case hinged on basic rights to due process and freedom from unreasonable arrest.

“It is the right of a free man to stand up to a police officer who is knowingly lying to say ‘That’s [a lie,] and not get beaten for it,” he told the jury. “[This case] should shock your conscience.”

Lally and Lyons said they were pleased with the verdict but angry about having to face the charges in the first place.

“I didn’t become a police officer to take away people’s rights,” said Lyons outside the courthouse. “This has been a strain on myself, my family and my co-workers.”


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