A former East Cleveland Police officer was sentenced to one year in prison Monday after Brian Stoll pleaded guilty to vandalism, assault and obstructing official business.
The charges stem from two separate incidents that happened 10 days apart in 2022, according to prosecutors.
What happened?
In the first case, prosecutors stated that Stoll and another officer attempted to stop a car on March 31, 2022.
Investigators said the driver led police on a low-speed chase that circled his girlfriend's home.
Prosecutors said the driver told investigators he did not immediately stop out of fear and that he went to his girlfriend's house hoping there would be witnesses to his interaction with police.
When the driver did pull over, body camera video showed the man surrender with his hands up and outside his car window.
But investigators said Stoll and the other officer forcefully pulled the man out of the car and "immediately began punching and kneeing him in the body and head."
Prosecutors said Stoll then took the man's phone and broke it after the driver told police he recorded the stop.
RELATED: 4 East Cleveland officers indicted for assaulting victims after traffic stops in March and April
In the second case, on April 10, 2022, prosecutors said Stoll was among the officers involved in another pursuit.
This time, investigators said the driver's vehicle was struck by another officer, who lied and said the driver hit his police cruiser.
Prosecutors said Stoll failed to correct the officer's statement.
RELATED: 3 former East Cleveland cops sentenced for crimes in uniform
Again, investigators said body camera video showed the driver "placed his hands up, which was visible through the windshield."
But, as in the other case, prosecutors said Stoll forcefully grabbed the driver, pulled him from the vehicle, pushed him to the ground and punched, kicked and kneed the man even though prosecutors said the man was not resisting.
Stoll then forced the victim into the back of the police cruiser.
That’s when the victim called 911 from his phone after telling officers on the scene he needed medical attention, according to the prosecutor. Cleveland EMS arrived on the scene, but the East Cleveland officers sent EMS away.
Cleveland Police also responded to the scene, but East Cleveland officers obstructed their attempt to see the victim’s injuries. CPD officers then called EMS despite the East Cleveland officers’ refusal, and the victim was ultimately taken to a nearby hospital for his injuries.
