Events Calendar
In This Section
Afghan police jeopardize plans to transfer security
World Briefs: 5 dead in gun rampage on Mariana Islands
Fingers, tooth said to be Galileo's are found
Pakistan demands U.S. share Afghan blueprint
Russian ship frees itself from ice in Antarctic
Italian prosecutor: American student hated murder victim
Afghan police are weak link in security force
Gunman opens fire on Pacific island Saipan; 5 dead
Most Read Stories
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Poor machine maintenance blamed for fire at Akron business
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Indians add 7 players to 40-man roster
Body with gunshot wounds found in Canton Township creek
Blogs:
Pets:
Sick Pets Get High-tech Health Care
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
The proposed new LeBron mural doesn't do it for me
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Hey, somebody's gotta stick up for the Browns
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Muslim McCarthyism & Death Prayers
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Norma asks if Barkitecture is still at Stan Hywet.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Veronika Oleksyn
Associated Press
POSTED: 02:20 p.m. EST, Feb 16, 2009
VIENNA: An American teacher who was attacked by Austrian police who mistook him for a drug dealer said today he believes he was singled out because he was black and he is taking legal action against the police for assault.
Mike Brennan, 34, from Jacksonville, Fla., said two undercover police officers ''came out of nowhere'' at a Vienna subway station and attacked him without identifying themselves.
Vienna police acknowledged the mix-up today and expressed their regret. In a statement, they acknowledged the officers had used ''physical force.'' Karl Mahrer, a senior Vienna police official, said on Austrian television an investigation was under way to determine why it had been necessary to use force.
Brennan is recovering in a hospital from bruises, swelling and sprains to his back, neck and hand.
Brennan's lawyer Alexander Hofmann said he had initiated legal action against police for abuse of power and assault and battery, in effect asking prosecutors to investigate the matter and bring charges. Hofmann said he would sue for damages on behalf of his client at a later stage.
Asked in an interview with the Associated Press whether he believed he was attacked because of his race, Brennan said he saw ''hatred'' in the eyes of one of his attackers.
''I heard about the situation before here, I heard a lot about it, and I've never really seen it'' before, he said.
Brennan teaches physical education and English as a Second Language at the Vienna International School, a private school that caters to the Austrian capital's expatriate community. He has lived in the Austrian capital for about four years.
He said he would have been more badly hurt if his girlfriend had not intervened.
''I don't want this to happen to anyone else — I hope justice is served,'' said Brennan, perched on the edge of his hospital bed holding crutches.
''I was bent over ... I had very excruciating pain,'' he said.
Hofmann said that when police realized Brennan was not the man they were looking for, they left the scene, leaving him hurt.
VIENNA: An American teacher who was attacked by Austrian police who mistook him for a drug dealer said today he believes he was singled out because he was black and he is taking legal action against the police for assault.
Mike Brennan, 34, from Jacksonville, Fla., said two undercover police officers ''came out of nowhere'' at a Vienna subway station and attacked him without identifying themselves.
Vienna police acknowledged the mix-up today and expressed their regret. In a statement, they acknowledged the officers had used ''physical force.'' Karl Mahrer, a senior Vienna police official, said on Austrian television an investigation was under way to determine why it had been necessary to use force.
Brennan is recovering in a hospital from bruises, swelling and sprains to his back, neck and hand.
Brennan's lawyer Alexander Hofmann said he had initiated legal action against police for abuse of power and assault and battery, in effect asking prosecutors to investigate the matter and bring charges. Hofmann said he would sue for damages on behalf of his client at a later stage.
Asked in an interview with the Associated Press whether he believed he was attacked because of his race, Brennan said he saw ''hatred'' in the eyes of one of his attackers.
''I heard about the situation before here, I heard a lot about it, and I've never really seen it'' before, he said.
Brennan teaches physical education and English as a Second Language at the Vienna International School, a private school that caters to the Austrian capital's expatriate community. He has lived in the Austrian capital for about four years.
He said he would have been more badly hurt if his girlfriend had not intervened.
''I don't want this to happen to anyone else — I hope justice is served,'' said Brennan, perched on the edge of his hospital bed holding crutches.
''I was bent over ... I had very excruciating pain,'' he said.
Hofmann said that when police realized Brennan was not the man they were looking for, they left the scene, leaving him hurt.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
