In 2007, Americus policeman Michael Middleton beat Eddie Bridges to the point that his eye protruded from its socket and weeks later the disabled victim died. A lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court in Albany, GA. The civil action wants to redress the deprivation of civil rights, unlawful arrest, detention, and use of excessive force against Eddie C Bridges. Named in the suit are Michael Middleton, Police Chief James Green, the Mayor Barry Blount, and the city council members.
According to lead attorney, George W McGriff of Atlanta, Ga, the case is moving along as depositions will begin soon. The complaint was filed by Patricia Bridges Tatum, as next of kin and as administrator of the Bridges' estate.
Police officer Middleton has been embroiled in several attacks on women and defenseless men, all have been Black. Most notably, the dog bite case where Crystal Harvey's eleven- year-old son was attacked by a White neighbor's dog that required 54 stitches. Michael Middleton investigated the case and the White dog owner was only charged with a misdemeanor. The neighbor came to take his first dog off of the child and a second dog bit the child several times.
Another complaint against Middleton was filed with the NAACP March 25, 2009 by Natasha Robinson, an 18 year old Black female. She told the NAACP that Middleton picked her up and slammed her to the concrete totally unprovoked. Ms Robinson had to go to the emergency room for head, right shoulder, and neck injuries. Middleton accused her of disorderly conduct.
A third complaint since the Eddie Bridges brutal beating was filed July 21, 2009 by Ms Carolyn L. Mitchell, a forty eight (48) year old Black female who is disabled says that officer Middleton arrested her because she talked back to him in her own home. [similar to the Gates' case] Again, Middleton used the disorderly conduct reason for her arrest.
All of these new complaints against Middleton were reported to his police Chief James Green who has not responded to NAACP president Matt Wright. Assistant police Chief Johnny King wrote in his investigation of the Middleton beating of Eddie Bridges that the department had received several complaints from Black citizens about Middleton's conduct as an officer. He was recommended to attend diversity training classes because of clashes with mostly Black citizens.
According to the complaint, Bridges was a 55-year old black male resident of Americus who suffered from a disability and epilepsy, which limited his major life activities to the extent that he was unable to engage in gainful employment in order to provide for him.
The complaint ads Defendant City of Americus Police Department is the employer of Middleton and Green, whose policies, customs and practices in part, caused the injuries suffered by Bridges as a result of being beaten on April 16, 2007 by Middleton, who acted under the direction and supervision of Green.
While Bridges was standing in front of the Goodwill Store waiting for the employee to return, he was approached by defendant Michael Middleton of the Americus Police Department. Middleton parked his patrol car in front of the Goodwill Store, got out of the car and walked up to where Bridges was standing. Prior to exiting his vehicle, contrary to Americus Police Department policies, Middleton did not notify anyone that he was about to question Bridges. The Americus Police Department manual provides that, "it is absolutely necessary that an officer notify the Communications Center as soon as they arrive at the scene of calls for service... Also, the officer will notify the Communications Center before leaving the patrol car, and on all vehicle or pedestrian stops. The officer will provide their location and identifying information on vehicles and pedestrians." Middleton did not call in as required by police department policy because he knew he was about to harass Bridges and he knew that Bridges was not a legitimate suspect for loitering.
The complaint states that after Bridges refused to leave, Middleton struck Bridges with a closed fist and grabbed Bridges and physically forced him to the ground face down in the parking lot with Bridges stomach and face touching the ground with the weight of Middleton's body on Bridges back. Bridges was not treated and handled in a safe and appropriate manner consistent with his disability. When Bridges tried to rise up, Middleton punched him several times in the face, head and back with a closed fist. Middleton continued to strike Bridges several times after Bridges had already been adequately restrained.
One of the many punches thrown by Middleton struck Bridges in the right eye with a lot of force causing bleeding and significant swelling to the facial area surrounding the eye in addition to causing the eyeball itself to protrude from its socket.
The complaint adds after the incident, Bridges experienced depression and his health deteriorated as he began having increased numbers of seizures and was not himself anymore. Bridges died on June 12, 2007, less than two months after being unlawfully detained, arrested, and beaten by Officer Middleton. The severe beating of Bridges by Officer Middleton on April 16, 2007, caused and contributed to Bridges death that June 12.
Attorney George W. McGriff is the lead attorney from Atlanta. He submitted six counts against Middleton and the City of Americus, individually and severally. Officer Middleton spoke with the publisher of the Americus Sumter Observer newspaper stating that he has,"no comment." The spokesperson for the Bridges family says that they are very pleased with the legal action taken.