“It’s becoming a
disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”
A YouTube video shows Colwyn Deputy
Chief Wendell Reed Tasering a parking enforcement officer for laughs inside of
the borough's tiny police department.
Reed was ousted from the department yesterday for
the possible cover up of an incident involving a juvenile who was allegedly
Tasered by Cpl. Trevor Parham while handcuffed in a holding cell April 24.
Parham was previously suspended by Lt. Wesley Seitz for the incident.
The video, which was uploaded in
January, shows the parking enforcement officer on his knees inside of the
police station. Reed, who is in the white shirt, hands the prongs of the Taser
to the man while a third officer stands behind and watches. All three laugh
hysterically before and after Reed Tases the man.
Colwyn Mayor Daniel Rutland said
he did not learn about the April 24 incident involving the juvenile until four
days after it happened and said the proper protocols were not followed and the
proper paperwork was not filed. He said he only became aware of the incident
after receiving calls from concerned citizens and being told about it by Lt.
Wesley Seitz.
State police were called to the
police department yesterday for backup when Rutland told Reed, who was the
acting head of the department, that he would not be scheduled for work while
borough and county officials investigate the incident and a possible coverup.
Last night, in a closed-door
executive session, borough council voted to suspend Seitz with pay. Sources
said it was because council members were angry he investigated the incident,
suspended Parham and reported it to Rutland.
Following the meeting, Rutland
declared a state of emergency in Colwyn so he could reinstate Seitz. In the
order, Rutland noted that Reed, Parham and a third officer who is alleged to
have been present during the Tasing, Michael Drucker, are under investigation
by the Delaware County District Attorney's Special Prosecution Unit and have
been removed from the schedule.
Given the shortage of officers in
the borough, the fact that Seitz is not under invesgitagation and that he is
protected under the state Whistleblower's Act, Rutland reinstated him and made
him acting head of the department, according to the state of emergency order.
A uniformed officer outside of
the department this morning said Seitz is expected to come in to work for the
night shift this evening. The officer said in his opinion, Seitz did the right
thing and Reed did not back him.
Rutland and Colwyn Council
President Tonette Pray have not returned requests for comment today