Cops Mistake Man’s Colostomy Bag for a Gun—Beat, Taser & Mace Him

Imagine you’ve recently had major surgery and now you’ve got staples in your stomach and you’re forced to use a colostomy bag. The pain is horrible. But you’re healing, and you’re driving along, minding your business, when you pull over to make a phone call on your cell. You pulled over for safety, but before you can even punch a button—two cops are punching you.

That’s exactly what happened to Lamar Wright of Euclid, OH. According to a federal lawsuit filed against the Euclid Police Department, Wright had simply pulled over to safely use his phone and was subsequently attacked, assaulted, and arrested by two overzealous cops for no reason.

Two other cases of police brutality have come from Euclid in the past year: Luke Stewart, who was shot and killed in March. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in October. More recently, Richard Hubbard III was brutally arrested and caught on camera. 

According to Wright’s civil complaint, two armed men—one black, one white—approached his vehicle, a rented SUV. When he realized they were police officers, Wright says he placed the car in park and held his hands up.

Officer Kyle Flagg’s gun “was raised and pointed toward Wright,” as he stood next to the driver’s door. Officer Vashon Williams stood behind Flagg, his gun also raised. Flagg ordered Wright from the vehicle, but before the unarmed motorist could comply, the cops started forcefully prying Wright from the car.

“Flagg yanked on Wright’s left arm,” the lawsuit reads. “Wright was still seated in the car at this time, and had staples in his stomach and a new colostomy bag. This, in combination with Flagg yanking on his left arm, prevented Wright from extending his right arm toward Flagg. … Flagg’s conduct caused Wright extreme pain. Wright cried out to Flagg several times that he was hurting his arm, but Flagg ignored him.” After he’s yanked from the driver’s seat, Wright is struck, tasered, and maced. What the hell??!

Seems they did not want this to get out. All of this can be seen on the video—body-cam footage that was released only because of Wright’s lawsuit being filed, according to The Free Thought Project.

Even though he committed no crime whatsoever, Wright was charged with obstructing official business, resisting arrest, and criminal trespass—all fabricated, according to the lawsuit. Wright also alleges that the officers “mocked” him for his pain.

After paying a $900 bond, Wright says he “was subjected to a search via a full-body x-ray scanner. … Only after this scanning was complete, approximately four to five hours after bond had been posted, was Wright finally permitted to walk free.”

Adding insult to injury, Wright says in the suit that he was forced to pay $1,000 for the damage the pepper spray caused to the rental car and he’s since been put on a “do not rent” list as a result. Unbelievable. 

Neither of the officers were so much as disciplined for the egregious brutality shown on the video.

“I filed this case to stand up against police brutality, and to stand with other victims of senseless attacks by officers from the Euclid Police Department. These officers’ illegal treatment of people in the city must stop,” Wright said in a public statement. “We need justice for all the victims.”

Let's hope this lawsuit sends a message, loud and clear to the Euclid PD!! #ItsTooMuch