Man struck 16 times by California cop feels vindicated after charges dropped

Almost a year and a half after Billy Lee Hill absorbed baton strikes from a San Bernardino police officer he says his shins still hurt too much for him to stand for long and his work is limited to light duties at a friend s restaurant But the -year-old Crestline resident achieved specific measure of satisfaction when felony charges filed after the videotaped confrontation were dropped and a misdemeanor charge added as part of a plea deal resulted in only a sentence of time already served after Hill pleaded guilty The last of the charges was dismissed in late October Related Articles OPD says society can t see video showing how Doug Martin died New LA County law bans law enforcement face-coverings including those worn by federal ICE agents Ex-East Bay cop sentenced to years in law enforcement corruption embarrassment Feds want to put away ex-East Bay cop for years East Bay cops draw guns on group of juveniles Here is their explanation That was a big relief you know Hill declared in an interview Hill s attorney in the criminal event and a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County District Attorney s Office could not be reached for comment on the plea bargain s details The officer who struck Hill was suspended Police Chief Darren Goodman disclosed his actions violated department protocol For over a year I have been painted as a criminal who tried to take an officer s weapon but the truth is ultimately out Hill reported The dismissal of these false felony charges and the chief s admission that his officers broke initiative proves what I have disclosed from the beginning I was the victim that day This isn t just a win for me it s a win for the truth On June officers researching a description of a stolen motorcycle encountered Hill in the parking lot of his workplace the Kwik Stop Dairy at E th St Police reported and Hill acknowledged that he matched the description of a man who had crashed the motorcycle But in a police body-worn camera video Hill denied stealing the bike and declared his bike was at home Warning Video contains violence harsh language Police cameras and a bystander s video show officers then attempting to detain Hill who repeatedly questions why When officers do not answer he twists his body a bit and briefly crouches prompting attempts to handcuff him One officer tries to disable him using a stun gun which Hill appears to grab Hill announced in the interview that he pushed it away One officer then pulls out his baton and repeatedly swings at Hill using a motion similar to that of a baseball batter I wasn t trying to cause problems Hill announced in the interview When they started racking me up I m like What the hell I couldn t believe he was hitting me like that You could hear my bones break I was pretty much in fear for my life If he hits me in the head I m through A San Bernardino police officer strikes Billy Lee Hill with his baton during an arrest on June The officer was suspended after the Police Department determined that he violated program A state agency that could have revoked his police powers declined to discipline him Police Chief Darren Goodman reported Photo courtesy of Dale K Galipo Hill announced he gave up protecting himself after a sparse strikes I m like a pi ata Hill declared Goodman without identifying him revealed the officer was suspended and returned to duty after additional training The officer was also referred to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training for an study POST could have revoked or suspended the officer s certification to work in California but identified that his actions did not merit discipline by that agency Goodman disclosed Hill has filed a civil lawsuit against the city of San Bernardino alleging excessive force and other violations seeking an unspecified monetary amount The event is set for mediation on Dec commented Hill s civil attorney Dale K Galipo The lawsuit identifies three officers among the defendants The lawsuit was preceded by a million claim against the city a precursor to a suit I am glad to see that the chief of police in viewing this video and other related evidence exposed these baton strikes to be outside of program Galipo revealed in an interview That will hopefully send a message to other officers in the department that this type of conduct will not be tolerated The city in a response filed with the court denied the statements San Bernardino police officers are shown in an image taken from a bystander s recording attempting to handcuff Billy Hill on June Attorneys for Hill sued the city alleging excessive force after an officer repeatedly struck Hill with his baton Photo courtesy of Dale K Galipo Hill stated he receives assistance from his wife of six years but he is now afraid when he is around police My paranoia is like Hill disclosed You see a cop and it s like Here we go Not all cops are like that for sure It was my first encounter with San Bernardino P D and it was a brutal encounter Related Articles OPD says 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