The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, Norfolk, VA - April 9, 2003

The city has paid $50,000 to settle a lawsuit by a Maryland truck driver who said a detective

beat him with a radio during a traffic stop three years ago.

Darnell Brown, 31, was driving his tractor-trailer into the Norfolk Industrial Park the morning

of May 3, 2000, when he encountered Detective Fred L. Pratt.

Pratt, in plain clothes and driving an unmarked cruiser, accused Brown of cutting him off.

Pratt ordered Brown out of the truck and pushed him against his squad car while yelling

obscenities at him, according to papers filed by Brown in U.S. District Court.

As Brown tried to turn around and ask what was going on, Pratt pulled out his hand-held

police radio and whacked him over the head several times, the papers say. Several

witnesses reported seeing the incident.

Brown fell to the ground unconscious. When he awoke, he was bleeding from his head and

neck. Pratt did not call for medical assistance, the papers say. The witnesses called an

ambulance, and Brown was treated at a local hospital for a concussion, cuts and bruises.

The court papers describe Pratt's actions as "an obvious fit of road rage."

Brown was convicted in General District Court of improper driving and resisting arrest, but

he appealed and the charges were dismissed after a trial in Circuit Court. He later sued in

federal court for $5 million, alleging violation of his constitutional rights.

Pratt said during the criminal case that he initially failed to identify himself as a police officer,

the civil court records say.

The settlement, reached during recent negotiations, came as both sides were preparing for

an April 22 trial. The agreement is expected to be filed this week in federal court, but city

officials said the $50,000 check has been mailed.

Brown lives outside Baltimore with his wife and two children. He declined to be interviewed.

His attorney, Adam H. Lotkin of Virginia Beach, said settling the case was a difficult decision

for his client.

"Certainly, he wanted his day in court," Lotkin said. "But at the same time, he wanted this to

be behind him."

City officials said Pratt would not comment on the case. Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko

and Police Chief Melvin High also declined to comment.

Pratt has been on the force since 1989 and remains a detective.

The court records say that Pratt had 16 internal affairs complaints against him between

1990 and 1997, 10 of which alleged excessive force. Internal investigations failed to

substantiate any of the excessive-force complaints.

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