Officer's actions are investigated

Internal affairs officers are reviewing man's arrest after a traffic stop.
WARREN -- A police officer overreacted when he kicked down the door of a man wanted on traffic violations, a defense attorney says.
Atty. Gilbert Rucker, who represents Teandre M. DeMarco of Kenwood Street Southwest, says his client was assaulted and had his home damaged due to the actions of an overzealous police officer.
"If you jaywalk, should an officer be able to club you over the head?" Rucker said, during a press conference.
"My client was injured. He was assaulted in his own home over a traffic violation."
Report unclear
According to the arrest report, Sgt. Martin Gargas stopped a vehicle that DeMarco was in for a traffic violation around 2 a.m. March 4. It is not clear from the report if DeMarco was driving or the nature of the alleged offense.
However, a videotape taken from a camera mounted on Gargas' cruiser shows that DeMarco got out of the driver's side door when he pulled into his driveway.
Warren Municipal Court records show DeMarco has been charged with driving under suspension, DUI, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. He is due in court March 29.
On the tape, Gargas said he stopped DeMarco because he went left of center and failed to stop at a stop sign.
Shortly after the traffic stop, DeMarco went into the house and shut the door, despite orders from Gargas to stop.
Seconds after the door shut, Gargas can been seen on the tape busting down the door.
Once inside the house, Gargas can no longer be seen on the tape but he can be heard screaming on the audio.
"You are under arrest," Gargas is heard saying.
DeMarco's wife, who was in the car with him, can be heard yelling at the officer to let her husband get up. DeMarco can be heard saying his left leg is hurt.
Gargas does not state on the tape that he was hit or complain of any injury.
Several minutes later other officers arrive and Gargas can been seen escorting a limping DeMarco from the house.
DeMarco was taken to the hospital and given a knee brace.
News conference
"He got hurt when the door was kicked in," Rucker said. "There is no justification for this to happen on a traffic violation. The officer had no right to go in the house."
Greg Hicks, city law director, said he and internal affair officers are reviewing the case.
The A. Philip Randolph Institute, Warren-Trumbull Urban League and the NAACP are planning a news conference today to address the matter.
The U.S. Justice Department began investigating the police department in January after numerous allegations of illegal strip-searches and excessive force by officers.
Justice Department officials from the department will meet with city officials April 4.