Chris Barger has no criminal record, and says he once believed the cops are the good guys who keep you safe, an opinion he no longer seems to hold after being beaten black and blue after dropping a friend off outside an apartment complex.
The Purcell Police claim that Barger got out of his vehicle with his hand in his pocket, prompting the beating by their officer.
“He begins to shine his light in my car window repeatedly and, after a while, I decided maybe I should get out of the vehicle and ask the officer what the problem is,” Barger told local station KFOR.
According to the police report, the officer pointed his gun at Barger, who put his hands in the air. The officer then placed him in a headlock, which Barger tried to pull away from.
The police report claims that Barger knocked off the officer’s glasses, so when another officer arrived he was charged with assault on a police officer. Meanwhile Barger suffered a broken nose and severe bruising. There is no indication of injury to any officer.
“I just started screaming for someone to help me, and he began hitting me even harder and faster,” Barger said.
Barger explained that he flinched every time an officer walked by him at the precinct, and that he was surprised to find more compassion from fellow inmates than from the police.
Barger is set to appear in court on Friday for the charges.
The department’s chief has stated he does not believe the officer did anything wrong, but has not ruled out an internal investigation into the incident.
