Police accused in 3 Twin River cases

LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) - Lincoln police officers are now accused in three alleged excessive force incidents involving Twin River customers who claim they were seriously injured by the officers.

Two of the three confrontations were caught on video. Edward Krawetz is seen kicking Donna Levesque in the head in May, 2009 in front of the slot parlor. Krawetz was convicted of felony battery in January. His sentence did not include time in the ACI.

The 20-year veteran, who was convicted of misdemeanor assault in 2001, is fighting to keep his job through a Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights hearing that is scheduled to continue in August.

Before the Krawetz case, on December 30, 2007, April Lima alleges she was "slammed face first into the casino floor" by two Lincoln police officers. She was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but the charges were later dismissed. Her lawsuit was filed in December, 2010 after the criminal case was completed.

The third case involves Daniel Finn, 42, of Pawtucket, whose attorney, Mark Dana, sent the town of Lincoln notice of intent to file a lawsuit last week. The town has 40 days to respond before an actual lawsuit is filed in court.

Finn claims he was left in a coma from injuries allegedly caused by three officers during an arrest at Twin River last November. According to Lincoln police reports, officers allege Finn threatened police and hurt himself by banging his head inside a police car. Finn has not been charged.

According to Dana, Finn has "permanent brain damage" from the injuries.

Lima's attorney, Kevin Bristow, said the injuries were caused during a struggle while she was being handcuffed by one of the officers. He said Twin River surveillance video shows Lima being thrown to the floor, Since then, she has been operated on twice for a shattered tibia and injuries to her MCL and ACL.

A total of six officers are allegedly involved in the three incidents and one of those officers is named in both the Lima and Finn documents.

Levesque has not filed a lawsuit. Dana was unavailable for comment. Bristow said he is limited on what he can say but he does see a possible connection that ties the three incidents together..

"The failure here is systemic. The officers are not trained to handle the types and volume of cases they encounter at Twin River," said Bristow.

Target 12 reached out to Twin River, Lincoln Police and the Lincoln town administrator but none of them would comment on the incidents.

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