Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1999

(202) 616-2777

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


FIVE HONOLULU POLICE OFFICERS INDICTED FOR
POLICE BRUTALITY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Five Honolulu police officers were indicted today for beating an individual who was in custody at the Honolulu Police Department, the Justice Department announced.

The four count indictment charges officers A.C. Brown, David Chun and Jesse Nozawa and their supervisors George DeRamos and Brian Punzal with conspiracy, deprivation of rights, and obstruction of justice in connection with the August 5, 1995 beating of arrestee Richard Doolin at the Central Receiving Division. The indictment alleges that Brown, Chun and Nozawa struck, kicked and assaulted Doolin after he was transferred to the Central Receiving Division from the Pearl City station. It also alleges that all five defendants conspired to cover up the beating, by among other things, filing a false report and holding meetings to discuss the continuing cover up. In addition, Officer DeRamos was charged with using threats to gain the victim's silence about the beating. The maximum statutory penalty for the charges is ten years imprisonment.

"Wearing a uniform does not give any individual a licence for violence," said Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "We will not hesitate to prosecute officers who cross the line and injure those they are sworn to protect."

On June 3, 1999, William Duarte, another Honolulu police officer, pleaded guilty to a two count information on charges related to the August 5, 1995 beating. He is currently awaiting his sentence, which is scheduled for November 19, 1999.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the cooperation of the Honolulu Police Department and is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department.

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