Two Peoria Officers Arrested After Video Tape Beating

PEORIA, Ill.

Two Peoria police officers have been arrested in connection with the 2008 beating of a man who claims he was pepper sprayed, kicked, punched and shocked with a stun gun following a police chase that was videotaped by a squad car camera.

Officers Andrew Smith, 29, and Gerald Suelter, 39, were arrested Monday night on charges of official misconduct, aggravated battery, battery and mob action, according to the police department. They were jailed pending a Wednesday afternoon court appearance, Peoria County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Joe Needham said Tuesday.

Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons, who decided to pursue the case after seeing the videotape, said the recording shows Bryce Scott stopped running and cooperated before the officers allegedly beat him.

"You can tell that a person made a conscious decision to pull over," Lyons said. "When you for whatever reason, say 'I'm going to give myself up,' if this is what they are going to do to you ..."

A call to a Peoria telephone listing for an Andrew Smith was not returned. A number listed for a Gerald Suelter was not answered. It was not immediately clear if the men had attorneys.

Police spokesman Doug Burgess declined to comment on specifics of the case, saying only that the officers were on leave, which will be unpaid if they are charged with felonies.

Scott was beaten early May 3 after leading officers on the car chase, authorities said. In a January lawsuit filed against Smith, Suelter and four other unnamed officers, Scott said officers pursued him after his girlfriend's mother called them saying Scott was outside her home.

Scott says he got out of his car at officers' request but was then pepper sprayed, kicked, shocked with a stun gun and punched.

The squad car video shows Scott's SUV being chased, stopping at a stop sign and, after a shouted order from a police officer, the driver sticking his hands out the driver's side window.

An officer then opens the SUV's door and the driver steps out before quickly dropping to the ground and out of the frame. One officer kneels over the spot where the driver appears to be and screaming and moaning can be heard.

Lyons said he didn't pursue the case earlier because he didn't know about the incident until the lawsuit was filed and the videotape emerged. Police never forwarded information about Scott to him, he said.

It wasn't immediately clear whether charges were filed against Scott from the chase.

Scott's attorney in the civil lawsuit, Dan Cusack of Peoria, said that while much of the action his client alleges doesn't appear in the videotape, it's clear to him what happens just off camera.

"Bryce, you know, was in a high speed chase, but then he stopped," Cusack said. "He appears to me and a lot of other people ... to have been obeying commands when the aggressive part of the tape picks up."

Burgess wasn't sure how long either officer had been with the department, only that both had worked there fewer than seven years.

Officer Bobby Hoese Charged with Aggravated Battery

EDWARDSVILLE

A Pontoon Beach police officer was charged with two felonies -- aggravated battery and mob action -- on Friday in Madison County Circuit Court.

Sheriff's deputies took police Officer Bobby D. Hoese, 29, of Granite City, into custody on Wednesday after a fight outside the Inn Between Tavern in Granite City that left one man with facial fractures, according to Capt. Brad Wells, chief of detectives.

The argument between the off-duty officer and the victim, stemmed from a previous confrontation over a woman.

"We had understood that there was a problem in the past between Hoese and the victim over a female," Wells said.

After the argument inside the bar, Hoese called Dennis M. Barbee, 60, of Highland, from the bar and told him about the argument.

Barbee arrived at the bar on 5200 Maryville Road and he and Hoese followed the victim to the parking lot.

The victim was treated at a hospital and released.

Barbee was also charged with aggravated battery and mob action.

A bar patron told investigators that Hoese grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the ground when he tried to go outside and check on the victim.

Hoese also was charged with battery, which is a misdemeanor.

Both men surrendered at the Madison County Jail on Friday. Each man had bail set at $50,000, and both men posted bond by late Friday afternoon.

A news release issued by Pontoon Beach Police Chief Charles Luehmann stated Hoese was placed on administrative leave.

"Depending on the outcome of our internal investigation, we will establish the level of disciplinary action commensurate with the charges that are found to be true," stated the press release.

Information on whether Hoese would be paid while on leave was not available Friday evening.