Cop Who Broke Elderly Man's Neck Cleared
wftv ^ | October 15, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando police say an officer, who broke an 84-year-old man's neck, did nothing wrong. Officer Travis Lamont was cleared by the department late Friday morning.
Orlando Police Chief Val Demings said Officer Lamont did not violate policy. He broke 84-year-old Daniel Daley's neck in September while arresting him.
Since the department has cleared Officer Lamont's use of force, there will be no internal affairs investigation into the officer's actions.
WFTV spoke with Daley's lawyer, Mark NeJame, Friday. NeJame told WFTV he is not surprised that the Orlando Police Department cleared the officer, but says it was wrong to do so.
The police report said Officer Lamont was justified in using what the department calls a hard takedown, and says he performed the technique by the book. Police pointed out in its report that Daley is six inches taller than the officer, even though they weigh about the same.
"Six inches, 60 years, um, there is a 60-year age difference. Come on, everybody knows, you got an 84-year-old person. Who cares how tall they are?" NeJame said.
Daley plans to sue Orlando police over the incident. Daley is now out of his medically-induced coma and is starting to speak again. He said he didn't know why he was in the hospital.
