WARREN POLICE Latest brutality claim brings feds' attention

U.S. Justice department officials will meet with city officials April 4.
WARREN -- Allegations of a police officer's breaking down a door and using excessive force on a man wanted for a traffic ticket is the latest brutality claim to rock a department already under scrutiny by the U.S. Justice Department.
The Warren-Trumbull Urban League and the NAACP are planning a news conference Thursday to address the March 4 arrest of Teandre M. DeMarco of Kenwood Street Southwest.
"I believe this shows a continuing pattern, and that is very disheartening," said Tom Conley, CEO of the Warren-Trumbull Urban League. "The U.S. Justice Department is not coming because they want to find facts; they are coming because there are facts -- that is the key everyone needs to look at."
The Justice Department began investigating the police department in January after numerous allegations of illegal strip searches and excessive force by officers. Officials from the department will meet with city officials April 4, said Law Director Greg Hicks.
Traffic stop
According to the arrest report, Sgt. Martin Gargas stopped a vehicle that DeMarco was in for a traffic violation. It is not clear from the report if DeMarco was driving or the nature of the alleged traffic violation.
Shortly after the stop, DeMarco went into the house and shut the door, despite orders from Gargas to stop. Gargas is then alleged to have broken down the door, Conley said.
According to the report, Gargas said DeMarco assaulted him. The report also states that DeMarco was injured, taken to the hospital and given a knee brace.
A videotape of the arrest, which was taken from a camera attached to Gargas' cruiser, is being reviewed by Hicks and the internal affairs department. Hick said the tape cannot yet be released since it's under review.
DeMarco was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and assault of a police officer.
Report not finished
Police Chief John Mandopoulos said the internal affairs report is incomplete, so he does not know the facts of the case. Doug Franklin, the city's safety-service director, could not be reached for comment.
Conley noted that many of the complaints filed against police dealt with excessive force after people were stopped for traffic violations.
"The Justice Department will be looking at the excessive force and searches by city police," Conley said.
Hicks said he was not advised by officials exactly what they will be doing when they arrive.
"All I know for sure is that on April 4 they want to meet with me, the mayor, safety-service director and the chief," Hicks said. "They told me they will send me an itinerary before they get here but I haven't received one yet."