OCEAN CITY -- A resort police officer, who allegedly viciously beat a Severn man during an incident outside a resort nightclub last August, is seeking a dismissal of the case on a variety of grounds including a nearly blanket denial of the allegations.
In March, attorneys for Branden Thomas, 26, filed suit in U.S. District Court against Ocean City Police Pfc. Ryan Flanagan and the department alleging the officer of an unprovoked attack against Thomas outside a midtown nightclub in August. The suit seeks an undisclosed amount of damages to be determined at trial for several charges against the officer including assault and battery, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to freedom from seizure.
“It is alleged that the individual police officer defendant made an unreasonable seizure of the person of plaintiff Branden Thomas, thereby violating his rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and that this individual police officer defendant battered the plaintiff and otherwise utilized excessive and unwarranted force during the course of said seizure,” the complaint filed in March reads.
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32 comments:
Say it ain't so!!! An Ocean City cop, probably after watching his cohorts work the Boardwalk (where the police think they OWN it and only allow citizens there by their good graces), decided he would like to try the public master hat on. With the framework of "justice" in Ocean City, where the States Attorney wouldn't bring charges against a cop even if he WITNESSED one and the judges rubberstamp whatever the prosecutor wants and every lawyer in the State of Maryland KNOWS that Ocean City is a "Constitution-Free Zone", his chances of winning (or even getting his case before a judge) are around zero. Zero might be a tad optimistic. And his lawyer knows it, too. He'll get his fee. Thats all.
I am surprised that they haven't been hit with more lawsuits. The amount of searches that they perform should really be called into question. Every day in the summer you see them searching multiple cars and people. In no other city have I seen this.
Wow let me guess, you got kicked off the boardwalk. Ok, here is a tissue.
From what I have personally seen and heard from those oc cops, I believe the cop did as accused. Of course proving it is another matter. The powers that be don't want this going forward. They want to keep their 'family resort' image. Which they haven't had in 30 plus years.
Bad Cop! No Doughnut!!
Just kidding.
There are 2 sides of the story and not being there I am not qualified to make judgment. Throughout my lifetime and public service I have seen and experienced a lot. The kicker to this case is both of these guys were rent-a-cops and many of us know what these "wannabe" cops are capable of doing or how they act. They can't be put in the same class as a full time professional LEO.
I remember going to Ft. Lauderdale back in the day during Spring Break. A group of us were bar hopping and I asked a cop where we were and got a smart @ss answer from him. That guy was not professional and he was one of the bad guys who didn't belong in a uniform. Most LEO's are great guys and very professional. Then there are the few that were bullied in school and now hide behind the badge.
I have been subjected to physical abuse from ocpd twice in my life. Once as a teen once as an adult.
Wow let me guess, you got kicked off the boardwalk. Ok, here is a tissue.
April 9, 2013 at 8:21 PM
Why don't you grow up? Your immature comments do not impress anyone, except maybe your boyfriends in the locker room. So tired of childish people.
The last time being in 2007 officer Joseph Melena whispered in my ear "if all of these other cops weren't around I would beat your !@#". True story, may god strike me down now if I am lying I swear on my daughter's life and grandmothers grave. It happened. They are thugs, wake up people.
There are indeed 2 sides, guilty and guilty.
Gee, a midtwon bar. Seacrets again? They have better video than the Clown House in DC, what does it show?
Many O.C. cops think they are invincible and immortal and need to be HUMBLED and realize they are mortal.
Is it just me or does it seem that Ocean City has a ton of these complaints and law suits? It is shocking that the dept hasn't hired in a outside agency to re-evaluate the police tactics to determine if they are abusing people. It would seem to me that they are lacking in discipline and striking someone from behind that apparently was walking away from the scene is horrible. There is no excuse for this. Someone is going to end up losing their temper again and someone is going to get injured worse or even killed.
Another false lawsuit by someone just wanting to get paid without having to work.
The same so called victim was charged with assault 2 years earlier. Makes me wonder about him now. I guess he was an innocent victim then. I am waiting to see if they drop the race card next.
DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND
Case Information
Court System: DISTRICT COURT FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY - CRIMINAL SYSTEM
Case Number: 4A00225152Tracking No:101001696655
Case Type: CRIMINAL
District Code: 07Location Code:01
Document Type: SUMMONSIssued Date:10/22/2010
Case Status: CLOSEDCase Disposition:TRIAL
Defendant Information
Defendant Name: THOMAS, BRANDEN JAY
Race: BLACK, AFRICAN AMERICAN
Sex: MHeight:506Weight:160DOB:05/12/1986
Address: 1915 GALETOWN ROAD
City: SEVERNState:MDZip Code:21144 - 0000
Charge and Disposition Information
Charge No: 001Description:ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE
Statute: CR.3.203Description:ASSAULT-SEC DEGREE
9:44 AM
I don't see where he was convicted or found innocent. You go to all that trouble of snooping yet you neglect to include the most important part. And just because someone has a criminal past does not negate any future events such as this. You do know the apostles were criminals too don't ya?
Anonymous said...
9:44 AM
I don't see where he was convicted or found innocent. You go to all that trouble of snooping yet you neglect to include the most important part. And just because someone has a criminal past does not negate any future events such as this. You do know the apostles were criminals too don't ya?
April 10, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Aw, Liberals always ready to defend the trouble makers. He didn't happen to be charged twice by accident.
Aw, Liberals always ready to defend the trouble makers. He didn't happen to be charged twice by accident.
April 10, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Doesn't matter how many times one is charged, he isn't guilty until convicted. You're calling me a liberal and you don't even know what it means. Moron.
2:35 PM you have liberal written all over your writings and you have nerve to call someone a moron? Typical of a liberal to resort to name calling.
I'm with 3:24.
2:35 PM you have liberal written all over your writings and you have nerve to call someone a moron? Typical of a liberal to resort to name calling.
April 10, 2013 at 3:24 PM
You started it moron. Like I said, you don't know the definition of the word or you wouldn't be using it. Now go back to your xbox or whatever.
I'm with 3:24.
April 10, 2013 at 5:04 PM
Of course you are.
"You started it" OMG are you 3 yrs old? Go tell your mom and leave the grown ups alone.
6:16 "OMG"? What are you, a 12 year old who just got her first bra?
No sorry to bust your bubble 7:01. I'm sure you got excited there for a minute though huh?
You wish 7:19.
No sorry I don't wish you would get excited by a 12 yr old. That's sick. You need help.
Sounds like you need help. Trying to live vicariously through a comment. Get a dog. I've heard they help to calm one.
Nope no help needed here but thanks for the advice. Not that I would take the advice of someone like you. I already have 3 dogs so I must be really calm. Have a nice night.
You too.
I appreciate the positive comments.
Wrong!
Just saw this post for the first time.
For the racist above, if you had bothered to check, you would see that the charges in the Anne Arundel District Court case were nolle prossed (dropped for the uninformed).
He was found guilty on all counts by a US District Court jury in a civil trial Baltimore on September 24th 2015
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