Mississippi police officer at the center of federal lawsuit over excessive force

Officer Greg Capers of the Indianola, MS, police force finds himself at the heart of another federal lawsuit. WLBT reports that the officer, who previously faced scrutiny for allegedly shooting an unarmed 11-year-old boy, is now being accused of using excessive force on Kelvin Franklin, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

According to the report, the incident transpired last December when Franklin visited his then-fiancé’s residence in Indianola. Moore, the representative for Franklin, explained that after a minor altercation regarding parking space, the police were called. Responding to the scene, Officer Capers reportedly handcuffed Franklin after being informed of the latter’s possession of a firearm.

The lawsuit details that while restrained, Capers pointed his service weapon at Franklin’s head. Franklin questioned the officer’s intentions, only to be tased multiple times, allegedly without any provocation. Moreover, Capers is also accused of choking the detained Franklin.

In light of the events, Moore and his client are seeking a minimum of $500,000 in damages. “The city and the chief have been complicit in Greg Capers running wild and running rampant in the city of Indianola,” Moore expressed to WLBT, suggesting that the city must now face the consequences of their purported negligence.

This isn’t the first time Capers is under legal scrutiny. Earlier in May, he was accused of shooting 11-year-old Aderrien Murry, who has since been on the path to recovery. This incident led to Capers’ suspension from the police department. Drawing a connection between the two incidents, Moore believes that had Capers been duly penalized for the December episode, the unfortunate event with Murry might never have occurred.

Emphasizing the negligence on the part of the city officials, Moore stated, “The city of Indianola had foreknowledge that Capers was a present threat to society, to the citizens of Indianola, and they allowed him to fester and keep his job as a police officer.”

Moore further detailed the physical and emotional trauma endured by his client post the December incident. Despite revealing his medical condition of having a single kidney, Capers reportedly disregarded the plea and proceeded with the tasing.

The lawsuit also names five other unnamed officers, along with the city and Police Chief Ronald Sampson.

When WLBT reached out for an official statement from both the mayor and the police chief, there was no immediate response.