Caught on video attacking an unarmed 50-year-old man who had already surrendered and was complying with their orders, two state troopers were arrested this week and charged with multiple counts of assault. Although at least seven officers appeared in the video, none of them attempted to stop their fellow troopers from viciously beating the compliant suspect.
On May 11, a Sky5 helicopter video captured the end of a police pursuit as 50-year-old Richard Simone’s pickup truck halted at the end of a cul-de-sac. According to the Massachusetts State Police, Simone failed to stop when troopers initially attempted to pull him over in connection with an advisory issued by another department. Leading officers on a one-hour chase from Holden, Massachusetts to Nashua, New Hampshire, Simone eventually drove his truck into a dead end and became trapped.
In the video, Simone put his hands in the air before exiting the vehicle and submissively dropping on all fours. As Simone continued complying and lying on his stomach, at least two troopers immediately began punching his exposed head and back for roughly 20 seconds.
Surrounded by at least seven officers including a K-9 handler, Simone did not appear to resist or fight back as the troopers repeatedly struck him on the ground. Despite the fact that five other nearby cops could be seen in the video watching the needless beating, none of them even attempted to protect Simone or prevent the other troopers from violating his civil rights on camera.
On Tuesday, New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster announced that Joseph Flynn of the Massachusetts State Police and Andrew Monaco of the New Hampshire State Police had been arrested and charged in Simone’s beating. Flynn was charged with two counts of simple assault, while Monaco was charged with three counts of simple assault. Both have reportedly been placed on suspension since the brutal arrest.
According to Foster’s office, Flynn was released on $2,000 personal recognizance bail, while Monaco was released on $3,000 personal recognizance bail. Although an assault conviction usually carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, both troopers could be subjected to an enhanced penalty because they were on-duty at the time of the incident. With enhanced penalties, Flynn and Monaco could face up to five years in prison for each charge.
Both troopers have been scheduled to be arraigned on September 13.
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