Blind Man Wins Excessive Force Case Against Police in Denver

A Federal jury awarded a blind man $400,000 after he won a lawsuit against a Denver Police officer who had slammed his face against a counter and left him bloodied.

The case stems from an incident at the Greyhound Bus Terminal in downtown Denver on May 22, 2012.

Philip White was there to ride a bus after attending a conference on technical advancements to help the blind. According to White’s attorney Darold Killmer, White planned to ride a bus to Vail, Col., before picking up a van back home to Eagle.

Because the bus was to full, White was told he could not board.

According to court documents, White wanted to discuss options with staff before a security guard told him he was “trespassing” and had to leave.

White refused and the guard called police. Two officers responded including Officer Kyllion Chafin.

White asked Chaffin if he could touch the officer’s badge to verify he was a cop. Chaffin declined.

Court documents indicate, Chaffin then wrenched White's arms behind his back and pushed him forward, slamming White's head into a ticket counter.

"The police officer's aggressive, bullying response was inexcusable,” said Killmer. “He bloodied and brutalized an elderly disabled man who never in his 77 years had any run-ins with police."

White was then handcuffed as he bled from the head and taken to Denver jail, where he spent about eight hours before being released around midnight.

The case went to trial Monday and a verdict was delivered Friday.

"We respect the court and we respect the jury's decision," said Sonny Jackson, a police spokesman. "We reviewed the case. We didn't find any violations of policy. We are always looking for ways to improve."

Chaffin in 2008 was commended by his department for leading an armed man out of committing suicide.