Former Memphis cop testifies of beating to prisoner by arresting officer

    * By Lawrence Buser
    * Posted April 9, 2010 at midnight

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/apr/09/ex-cop-testifies-of-beating-to-prisoner-by/

A former Memphis police officer told a federal jury Thursday that a fellow officer's videotaped altercation with a transgender prisoner last year was not a fight but "a beatdown" by the officer.

Testifying for the prosecution, James Swain said he watched officer Bridges "Sutton" McRae use his metal handcuffs like brass knuckles to punch the prisoner several times in the head in the sally port of the jail.

McRae, who was fired, is charged with civil rights violations. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

As a former member of the Police I hope they come down on him like a ton of bricks. The Law is the Law, and an assault like that is a serious crime, and should be dealt with as such.