Sheriff's Deputy's 3rd Alleged Flashlight Beating Costs Sacramento County $200K
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF/AP) -- Sacramento County has agreed to pay $200,000 to settle an excessive-force complaint that alleges a suspect was needlessly beaten by a deputy wielding a flashlight. This is the third such settlement in eight years.
The Sacramento Bee reported that the settlement stems from a lawsuit filed by John Reyes, who alleged that Deputy Paul "Scotte" Pfeifer beat him with a flashlight, doused him in pepper spray and shot him with a stun gun during a December 2014 confrontation outside a Starbucks.
The lawsuit has been dismissed with neither party admitting wrongdoing.
Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Tony Turnbull said he was not aware of the settlement and had no comment.
The settlement is the third involving Pfeifer and alleged flashlight beatings since 2008. Sacramento County previously paid $150,000 to settle a lawsuit over the beating of a parolee pulled over while driving a stolen car just three months before the Reyes beating.
The county also paid $20,000 to settle a woman's lawsuit alleging Pfeifer beat her legs with a flashlight while trying to get her inside his patrol car.
Pfeifer is a 15-year veteran of the sheriff's department and remains on duty, according to the Bee.
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