PARKERSBURG - Concerned about the police department, Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell has requested a federal investigation into alleged violations by some officers.
Newell has contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Charleston requesting an investigation into possible civil rights violations.
This year the city has settled three lawsuits alleging police abuse, and three officers are on paid leave, including a sergeant who is under indictment for battery.
"I want to make sure there is a lot of transparency with what we do," Newell said. "When police officers get into trouble it is always good to have a federal agency look into those allegations."
Joseph Ciccarelli, supervisory senior resident agent with the Charleston office of the FBI, confirmed the agency had been contacted by Newell.
"We have initiated a civil rights investigation concerning incidents involving the arrest of Terry Ratliff and Jerry Seabolt," Ciccarelli said.
Ratliff received a $70,000 settlement from the city earlier this year for alleged abuse by officers in 2008 from a lawsuit naming six Parkersburg police officers - Charles Wolfe, Ben Ward, Michael Randall, William Wells, Matt Eichhorn and Nathan Deuley - and the city as defendants.
Seabolt, who was in police custody, was allegedly struck by Sgt. Josh Vensel in October while being processed at the Wood County Holding Center.
Ratliff alleged he was placed under arrest for public intoxication after Deuley noticed him urinating in a parking lot.
The suit alleges during the arrest a struggle ensued and Ratliff was the victim of unnecessary or unreasonable force and maintains Ratliff, still in handcuffs, was again assaulted in the parking lot of the police station by several officers.
According to the suit, Ratliff was taken to Camden Clark Medical Center for treatment. While in the emergency room, Ratliff was handcuffed and shackled to his bed and was again assaulted by officers, the suit alleges.
Deuley has been on paid leave since May 7 and officials, citing personnel issues, have declined to comment. Deuley has been named in at least two of the suits settled by the city this year, but has not been charged with a crime.
Vensel, a seven-year veteran and shift supervisor in the police department, was indicted Oct. 31 by a Wood County grand jury for the battery of Seabolt at the holding center about two weeks ago. Vensel is alleged to have struck Seabolt, who was being booked on charges of obstruction, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
Seabolt was treated at Camden Clark Medical Center then returned to the holding center, but did not press charges.
The incident was captured on cameras at the holding center.
Vensel has been suspended with pay pending an internal investigation, Parkersburg police Chief Joe Martin said. Martin said the department's investigation of Vensel's conduct is running parallel to the prosecuting attorney's investigation into the incident at the holding center.
"The vast majority of officers are professional," Newell said. "It only takes a couple of incidents by a couple officers to bring the whole department down. We take it very, very seriously."
Newell said it's important for residents to know Martin didn't create the situation and the officers on leave are not representative of the police department.
"This is a good department and we have a lot of good officers," Newell said. "There is always two or three who give the department a black eye. And our history is we take care of these when they come up."
Copyright 2011 Charleston Newspapers
