June 19, 2008

Memphis: Watch the Big, Bad, Punk Cop Beat Down the Transwoman in Custody

Memphis, Tennessee, February 12, 2008: Transgender woman Duanna Johnson is arrested on a prostitution charge. While she is in custody, Officer Bridges McRae, 28, speaks to her; when she doesn’t respond as he wants her to, McRae wraps a pair of handcuffs around his fist and starts beating Johnson about the head. A second officer, James Swain, 25, grabs Johnson’s shoulders and holds her while McRae continues the beating.

Then McRae maces Johnson. Then he handcuffs her and leaves her lying on the floor. Then a nurse shows up and tends to McRae for a scratch, ignoring Johnson:

There’s a follow-up video from WMC-TV, which first reported the story, in which we learn that Swain — the one who held Johnson down — was fired in April, and McRae — the one who beat her — was given a desk job.

Ironically, it was a complaint by McRae that brought this brutal assault to the attention of the Memphis Police Department’s Internal Affairs — against the detective in the booking area, for not helping McRae “during the incident” (i.e., while he was beating Johnson!).

The case has been turned over to the the FBI (presumably because of the potential violation of Johnson’s civil rights).

Johnson intends to sue.

What do we say? We have great respect for law enforcement officers who take “To protect and to serve” to heart. We do not call cops “pigs.” But in this case, we’ll make an exception.

As I commented on the YouTube video above: “What horrid stains [Swain and McRae] are upon police officers everywhere — and what disgusting excuses for human beings. And may that nurse never sleep soundly again.”

Posted by: Sapphocrat

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