Man Claims MBTA Officer Used Excessive Force During Red Line Incident
By Ken Tucci, WBZ-TV
March 19, 2015
BOSTON (CBS) – He saved a man’s life, but did he use too much force? The incident was the subject of a surveillance video released last year by the MBTA. It shows Anthony Ferrier standing at the edge of a Red Line subway platform.
MBTA Detective Sean Conway swooped in and pulled the man to safety. Conway was called a hero. But Ferrier’s lawyer says the brief video doesn’t show the entire story, and it’s the fight over what comes next that’s now taking center stage.
Milton fought the T for 10 months to get the full video of the incident. It shows that after Conway pulled Ferrier to safety, the two men struggled on the ground.
Conway looks like he’s trying to get handcuffs on Ferrier, but then appears to punch him several times. But the T didn’t release that part when the incident first happened.
“They released only an edited version and then they wanted to hide the part of the incident that didn’t reflect favorably on the agency,” says Milton.
The attorney says his client suffered fractures around his eye and nose.
Milton admits that Ferrier was drunk at the time, but claims Conway used excessive force and will most likely file a lawsuit against him.
“Those punches were completely inappropriate. Police officers are not trained to punch people in the face,” Milton says.
The Transit Police say Milton’s accusations are wrong.
“An internal review found that Detective Conway acted appropriately.”
The MBTA says anyone implying that they tried to mislead “is simply incorrect.”
The next step may be a court fight.
“Mr. Ferrier wants compensation for his injuries and he wants recognition that the officer’s behavior was unacceptable,” says Milton.
After the incident, Detective Conway followed protocol and filed what’s called a “Use of Force” report, outlining what happened.
Conway is a 13-year veteran of the Transit Police.
Milton also criticizes the state’s Public Records law saying it allows agencies like the MBTA to withhold information.