ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, February 16, 1996              TAG: 9602160061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER 

CHIEF DENIES ALLEGED BRUTALITY INTERNAL PROBE SAYS PASSENGER WAS VIOLENT

Roanoke Police Chief M. David Hooper denied allegations Thursday of police brutality in a recent arrest, and in an unusual move, publicly detailed the findings of an internal affairs investigation.

Two Roanoke men said police held one of them at gunpoint Sunday - threatening to kill him - while beating the other man during a routine traffic stop. The men have not filed a complaint with the Police Department, but their accusations have raised questions about the use of force by Roanoke police.

The internal investigation revealed no wrongdoing by officers. Instead, it described the car's passenger, Steven Leftwich, as violent and uncontrollable. It confirmed that police kicked and hit Leftwich, but did so only to subdue him.

The officers "used the force necessary to achieve the goal to render Mr. Leftwich harmless," Hooper said. "He was hit. He was kicked. But at no time was he hit or kicked when he didn't have [an officer's] hand in his mouth, or was trying to get someone's weapon."

The struggle sent Leftwich, three police officers and a state trooper to the hospital. Each was treated and released.

The most seriously injured - Officer A.P. Forbes and Trooper R.J. Carpentieri - are not expected to return to work until next week. Forbes has a concussion and Carpentieri a torn shoulder muscle.

Early Sunday, after a night on the town, Leftwich had asked his cousin, William Hayden III, to be his designated driver. At 3:47 a.m., Forbes stopped the two in downtown Roanoke because their rear taillights were not working.

According to police, Forbes asked Hayden to step to the rear of the car. Hayden explained that the car was Leftwich's. Leftwich was seated on the passenger's side.

Forbes then asked Leftwich for identification. As Leftwich leaned across the console, he knocked off the top and revealed what appeared to be a bag of marijuana, police said.

Carpentieri, who had just dropped off a prisoner at the Roanoke City Jail, drove by and stopped to assist Forbes. Carpentieri stood by Hayden while Forbes searched Leftwich, who had said he had a knife. No weapons were found, and Leftwich was asked to move to the rear of the car while it was searched.

Carpentieri walked with Leftwich to the rear of the car.

"Without any warning or provocation, Leftwich turned and hit the trooper in the chest with both hands, knocking Carpentieri backwards," according to a written police report distributed at Thursday's news conference.

Leftwich struggled and hit Forbes, police said, and Carpentieri sprayed Leftwich with Mace, with no apparent effect. Leftwich bit Forbes on the hand, tried to remove the officer's gun and knocked him to the ground, police said, and Forbes hit his head and was knocked unconscious.

Five other officers quickly arrived, attempting to subdue Leftwich, police said, and at one point, Carpentieri, Officers E.T. Wilson and D.C. Dean struggled with Leftwich, falling through a store window on East Campbell Avenue.

After about 15 minutes, Hooper said, the officers were able to handcuff Leftwich. Sgt. M.A. Lee arrived on the scene and was told to watch Hayden. Lee drew his gun. But Hooper said Lee never threatened to kill Hayden.

"The strange thing about this is ... there was no intent to charge the driver," Hooper said.

No officer has been reprimanded, Hooper said.

State police say findings from their internal investigation are consistent with the Roanoke Police Department's conclusions.

Leftwich's account of the events differs vastly. He said the melee began when a Roanoke police officer jumped him as he walked to the rear of his car. He said he never tried to wrestle any of the police officers' guns away and that he never fell through the store window.

Leftwich was charged with two counts of assault and battery against two Roanoke officers, malicious wounding of a state trooper, attempted malicious wounding of a Roanoke officer and possession of marijuana.

Thursday night, Leftwich said he had no comment about the internal investigation.

LENGTH: Medium:   80 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. The officers "used the 
          force necessary to achieve the goal to render Mr.  Leftwich 
          harmless," Roanoke Police Chief M. David
          Hooper said Thursday. color.