Former Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe has joined a brutality suit over a riot at a Galveston bar, which apparently occurred two years ago at a wedding reception. Whom is Backe suing? Ah, yes: the Galveston Police Department.
In a federal lawsuit filed Sept. 24 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas, Brandon Backe and 11 other complainants claim that about 40 police officers subjected them to brutal beatings, excessive force and unlawful confinement. The incident occurred during the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2008, when authorities were called to a disturbance at the H2O bar at the San Luis Resort.
This is just the beginning. The details pack quite a punch.
So, apparently, this "riot" began when a party guest tried to get to his room through the bar and was stopped by a security guard. Things escalated a bit, to say the least.
A few of the plaintiffs - including Backe - were reportedly within the vicinity of the hallway where the stop occurred and followed the officer and the partier. The officer then called for assistance and about 20 officers approached the area, subsequently accosting and cursing the partygoers, the suit alleges.
I'm still waiting for the juicy part of all this. Oh, wait, here it is.
The plaintiffs claim that the officers randomly handcuffed, assaulted, Tasered and pepper-sprayed numerous guests, who expressed shock and confusion over the unfolding incursion.
Question: what, specifically, does Backe have to do with all of this? Answer: he got done up bad.
Backe states he tried to pacify the advancing officers when he was grabbed, forced to the ground, and beaten, according to the complaint. Backe also claims he was dragged outside to a police cruiser after the beating.
Now, if it wasn't criminal enough that a former pitcher with a playoff win to his name got "unfairly" beaten up by police, the crazy po-po decided to go after the easiest target possible: a pregnant woman.
The pregnant wife of one of the plaintiffs was pushed to the ground by police despite her husband's pleas to stop, and the melee left one man unconscious, the suit says.
"JIMMY, I DONE KNOCKED DOWN THE PREGNANT LADY. FIFTY POINTS, RIGHT? AIN'T THAT WHAT WE AGREED UPON? FIFTY POINTS IF THEY'RE PREGNANT?"
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