Cleveland officers charged in suspect beating

CLEVELAND (AP) — Four Cleveland patrolmen have been criminally charged in the New Year’s Day beating of a fleeing motorist who suffered a broken nose and detached retina.

Chief Michael McGrath announced the felony charges today against officers Martin Lentz, Kevin Smith, Paul Crawford and Christopher Randolph.

Each was charged with felony counts of assault and obstruction of official business. They will be suspended without pay while the case is resolved.

Court records don’t reflect attorneys for them. Messages seeking comment on their behalf were left for the police union.

Attorneys for 40-year-old Edward Henderson of Cleveland Heights went to court to obtain police helicopter video of the chase that began when he allegedly fled a traffic stop. He has pleaded not guilty to assaulting the officers and failing to obey a police order.