An Alabama police officer is alleged to have beaten an elderly man, after he called 911 to report an accident and detain a drunk driver from leaving the scene, as his wife watched from a wheel chair in their home.
84-year-old Dorsey Henderson of Fairhope, Alabama called 911 after observing an accident across the street from his home, The Courthouse News Service reported. After investigating the accident and determining that the driver was drunk and intoxicated, he told the man not to leave the scene and called police.
Officer Trent Scott, arrived at the location and while Henderson was trying to tell him what had happened and that he had placed the offender under “citizen’s arrest”, Officer Scott told him there is “no such thing as citizen’s arrest in Alabama,” adding that he should “get out of the way, old man.”
Henderson told Officer Scott he was only trying to help, but he was placed in an arm bar and walked across the street. According the the report, Henderson’s his rotator cuff was torn.
But, Officer Scott did not stop there. Back in Henderson’s driveway, he “slammed” the elderly man face down, breaking his nose and glasses. Scott then “proceeded to beat” Henderson in “the back of the head, neck and arms.” Scott did not arrest Henderson or charge him with any crime.
An ambulance called to the scene was sent back, until Scott’s superior arrived. Henderson was released and the ambulance called back to take him to Thomas Hospital.
Henderson’s wife, Dorris, is reported to have watched the entire beating from her wheelchair, 18 feet away and called 911, saying that Scott was “beating the hell out of my husband.”
As of May 16, 2011, Officer Trent Scott was still employed by the Fairhope Police Department, The Courthouse News Service reported.
