According to court records, the Covington police officer who was seen on tape repeatedly hitting a demonstrator last week has been sued before for using excessive force.
According to Covington officials, Officer Zachary Stayton is still on paid administrative duty as his actions during last week’s demonstration on the Roebling Bridge are being investigated. Bystander and police bodycam footage captured the moment Stayton seized fleeing protester Brandon Hill and started striking him repeatedly, even after he hit the ground.
Covington Police Chief Brian Valenti read from Stayton’s use-of-force report during a press conference. According to the report, he tried to shoot pepper balls at Hill’s lower limbs and feet while he was in the road, forcing Hill to the sidewalk.
Then, Stayton said he witnessed Hill appear to reach toward a bag at his waist, believing he may be attempting to retrieve a firearm. At that time, Stayton wrote that he drew his gun.
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As Hill ran along the sidewalk, Valenti played back video from Stayton’s body camera, showing him pursuing Hill. As Hill clung to the railing, he was captured on camera grabbing Hill.
In attempt to regain control and stop a possible fall, I used my left hand to strike Hill’s face multiple times with a closed fist at that point, according to Stayton’s report.
According to Stayton, Hill kept up his physical resistance while purposefully hiding his hands. Hill is seen falling to the ground and clinging to what looks to be the bridge railing in footage captured by another officer’s body camera.
On camera, Hill is shown lying on the ground while Stayton keeps punching him. Hill cries, “Stop!” as the cop keeps punching him, and puts his hand behind his head to shield it from the blows.
I repeatedly ordered Hill to put his hands behind his back and administered more closed fist punches out of fear that he would be trying to obtain a weapon and that the gathering around me would endanger my safety, Stayton stated in his report. After a while he put his hands behind his back and cooperated. I witnessed strikes after cooperation was obtained.
After Hill departed Good Samaritan Hospital on Friday evening, we had a conversation with him. He stated that he will require more testing because he had scratches and bruises on his head and that his arm may be fractured, but swelling made it impossible to get an accurate scan.
Hill demanded that Covington police personnel receive further training. In response to a question about whether he would take the department to court, he stated that it was too soon to decide.
According to Hill, it appears that several people used undue force.
Stayton was accused of using excessive force once more, according to a complaint filed in September 2023. Court filings claim that Stayton and another cop arrested a guy outside a Kroger in Covington after slamming him to the ground. The man claimed that when police approached him outside his car in the Kroger parking lot, he refused to give them his ID.
The victim added, “I was slammed against a wall and a fence, which resulted in contusions, scrapes, abrasions, and bleeding to my head and face.” My left elbow also had abrasions, scratches, contusions, and bleeding. Without receiving any medical care, I was taken right away to the jail.
In February 2024, the plaintiff settled with the city for $27,500, and his claim was dismissed.
This story originally appeared at WCPO.com.
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