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A June beating by police officers of a college student leaving the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City was captured by surveillance video and will be used as evidence in a lawsuit filed by the student’s parents.
David Connor Castellani, 20, was beaten so badly in the June 15 attack, he has total numbness on the right side of his head and severe nerve damage. His mother said at the time his head looked like “Hamburger Helper”, referring to a ground beef dinner brand.
Castellani was reportedly asked to leave the casino since he was not of legal age. The video shows the college student gesturing and yelling then he is tackled by police officers.
Castellani told CNN in an exclusive interview: "I was just basically rolling up in a ball -- I wasn't resisting, I told them that, and they continued to beat me. I was holding on for life when the dog bit me."
Atlantic City Police Chief Ernest Jubilee told CNN correspondent Jason Carroll that an internal investigation of the incident is underway, but that he is standing by his officers.
"I stand by the officers. I stand by their actions. If the investigation bears something different, then we'll deal with it at that time," Jubilee said. The officers involved all remain on active duty.
David Connor's mother, Theresa Castellani, told CNN. "I was just numb, went home and got sick. You don't want to see that happen to anyone, but especially your own child...that was horrible."
His father, David Sr. said: "I think it's really the sum total of the (police) administration allowing these officers to perpetrate this kind of conduct and to continue to allow them and empower them with this abuse of authority," David Castellani said. "They're there to help you, not to hurt you. To see this kind of conduct, a beat down on my son and then the use of (a police dog) on his neck ... it was shocking beyond belief."
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Camden, New Jersey this week. The video can be viewed below
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
