Frank Jude, Jr.
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Frank Jude Jr. is a Milwaukee man allegedly beaten by off-duty Milwaukee Police Department officers on October 24, 2004. Jude has been incarcerated since his probation was revoked in November, 2005 after he was accused of beating his mother.
The officers, Jon Bartlett, Andrew Spengler, and Daniel Masarik, were all charged with battery, with Bartlett and Masarik also being charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. The case went to a trial and was marred by the controversial selection of an all-white jury. The jury acquitted the officers of all charges on April 14, 2006. Jude and his wife have filed a claim against the Milwaukee Police Department in civil court.
Following the trial, an estimated 50,000 people took part in a "Justice For Jude" rally at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Although some independent estimates put the number closer to 100,000.
On October 19, 2006, the Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury in Milwaukee had indicted Jon Bartlett, Andrew Spengler, Daniel Masarik, Ryan Lemke, and Ryan Packard, with one count each of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Frank Jude Jr. and Lovell Harris and of violating the civil rights of Frank Jude Jr. by assaulting him in October, 2004. Each count carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
[edit] References
- U.S. Department of Justice (2006-10-19). Five Former and Current Milwaukee Police Officers Indicted on Civil Rights Charges; Additional Officer Pleads Guilty To Obstruction. Press release.
- Pfeifer, Bryan. "Community protests acquittal of cops by all-white jury", Indymedia Milwaukee, 2006-05-19.
- Deidrich, John, and Georgia Pabst. "'Not Guilty': All-white jury clears officers in 4 of 5 charges", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2006-04-15.
- Deidrich, John. "Jude officers' trial begins: Prosecutors have a tough task but also hold some trump cards", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2006-03-26.
