Video Reveals Officer Punching Black Store Owner Who Reported A Robbery

A Black liquor store owner says that a White police officer punched him in the face. He says it happened when officers were responding to a robbery call.

Kevin Penn, from Decatur, Alabama, has now filed a lawsuit in federal court. This was after suffering a broken jaw during the incident in March 2020. He is suing the city and Officer Justin Rippen.

The incident occurred when Penn held a thief on the ground at gunpoint in his store. Camera footage shows Penn unloading the weapon as police got to the scene. As the officers got closer, Penn can be seen placing the gun magazine on the ground.

An officer then walked by the suspect and instructed Penn to put his gun down. “I have a right to have my gun,” Penn is heard saying, ignoring the instructions.

However, officers said that they thought that Penn was reloading the weapon. Officer Rippen is seen punching Penn. Rippen and two other officers then tackled Penn to the floor and placed him in handcuffs. Penn was apprehended and charged with obstructing a robbery investigation.

For six weeks, Penn’s jaw was wired shut.

Officer Rippen was not punished. Additionally, no investigation was done until the video surfaced three months after the occurrence.

Court documents accuse the Decatur Police Department of using excessive force systematically. The lawsuit also notes that Penn’s constitutional rights were violated by the unlawful seizure and false arrest.

Additionally, the city is accused of not training or supervising officers effectively. It added that city leaders didn’t know that the unlawful stops, searches, apprehensions, and excessive force were being performed against individuals in the city.