Former St. Albans police officer permanently banned from police work in Vermont
Former St. Albans police officer permanently banned from police work in Vermont
The Vermont Criminal Justice Council has approved a stipulation agreement revoking Jason Lawton’s law enforcement certification following his assault conviction for punching a woman who was in custody.
According to video of the March 2019 encounter leading to the decertification, Amy Connelly was in custody in a holding cell at the St. Albans police station with her hands cuffed behind her back.
At one point in the video, Connelly can be seen standing up, appearing to raise a leg toward Lawton. The video shows Lawton pushing her onto a cell bench, grabbing her shirt near her neck, and punching her in the face.
Lawton and two other officers then push her face-first to the ground and cuff her ankles.
“In reviewing the incident,” Vermont Criminal Justice Council records stated, “the internal investigation found that (Lawton’s) actions were excessive, unnecessary, and a disproportionate use of force under the totality of the circumstances.”
Not sufficient. She should be compensated for pain and suffering, from both St Albans and Lawton, and the other two cops involved, who participated should also be banned, and jailed.
There's should be a criminal charge since the action wasn't a reasonable part of his job.
He was convicted of assault.
Lawton was sentenced to three to six months in jail in December 2022 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor simple assault charge.