BROOKLYN, Ohio (WOIO) — A former Brooklyn police sergeant is now facing assault charges after video showed him repeatedly punching a handcuffed woman during an arrest last year.
Police are concealing the woman’s identity because they now consider her a victim.
On Wednesday, independent prosecutor Brian Kraft charged Paul Stein with one count of assault following an internal investigation that led to his termination in September.
The incident occurred Sept. 4 when officers arrested a 36-year-old Parma woman on an outstanding warrant for aggravated menacing.
Video obtained by 19 Investigates shows the woman was drunk and belligerent when Stein and five other officers responded to assist.
When she didn’t cooperate, officers tried to strap her to a restraint chair.
Use of force escalates during arrest
The woman was wearing only socks when video shows Stein stepping on her feet with his boots to stop her from kicking.
“Get off my foot now. Get off my foot now,” the woman said in the video.
“You’re hurting me. Get off my feet,” she said.
Despite her pleas, video shows Stein remained planted on her feet for three and a half minutes while he pinned her shoulders to the restraint chair.
The woman then spit directly in Stein’s face, hitting his beard and left cheek.
Within seconds, the officer responded with five punches to the woman’s jaw.
“You spit on me again you’re going to get it,” Stein said after the punches.
Previous incident involving hit-and-run allegations
This was not Stein’s first controversial incident.
Last May 19 Investigates first reported an incident involving Stein that happened on April 30 on I- 90 in Westlake.
Juan Wyckoff from Maple Heights said Stein’s Chevy Silverado hit his car — then sped off at more than 100 miles per hour.
At the time, Wyckoff didn’t know Stein was an off-duty police officer on his way to work.
“I’m like he literally just tried to run me off the highway and kept going,” Wyckoff said.
Wyckoff then followed the truck, grabbed his cellphone and recorded it driving erratically.
At one point, the truck exits I-90 and races through Rocky River’s residential streets, barreling through red lights.
When both arrived at the police station, Wyckoff followed Stein to the employee entrance.
Surveillance video captured Stein aggressively pushing Wyckoff away and kicking his leg.
“When is assault on camera not a crime?”
“That makes no sense because if I would’ve defended myself, I wouldn’t have been able to talk to nobody.”
Wyckoff wanted to press charges.
However, after police investigated, Stein was only issued a traffic citation.
Chief Scott Mielke gave Stein a written reprimand.
Internal investigation leads to termination
During a pre-disciplinary conference, Stein said the force he used against the woman was reasonable.
However, Chief Mielke disagreed.
An internal investigation found the punches were “excessive and egregious.”
Stein was fired Sept. 17.
After 18 years of enforcing the law, the former officer is now accused of breaking it.
His arraignment is scheduled for next Wednesday in Parma Municipal Court.
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