Lawyer: client ‘blinded’ by police

An attorney for a Long Beach man who was arrested in July for resisting arrest and driving without an interlock device claims that his client was brutalized so badly by Long Beach police officers during the arrest that he is now blind in one eye — and may lose sight in the other.

Police said the suspect, Timothy Schroeder, 38, was arrested on July 25 on East Fulton Street after he put up a struggle with police officers, although Schroeder’s attorney, William Petrillo, is accusing police of using excessive force during the arrest. “It’s an outrageous case of police brutality,” he said, calling the alleged actions of the officers “unnecessary.”

“He’s completely blind in his right eye.”

Petrillo added that Schroeder is “having vision problems in his left eye,” and is “running the risk of losing his vision in that eye as well.”

Long Beach Police Department Deputy Inspector Bruce Meyer, however, strongly disputed claims of police brutality, and said that the police officers involved had the “highest level of integrity and are beyond reproach.”

Meyer said that a civilian who witnessed the arrest was interviewed by police and reported that Schroeder was “aggressively resisting arrest.”

According to police, the incident began at 9:12 p.m. that night, when a Long Beach police officer spotted Schroeder heading west on East Park Ave. in his gray Acura while he was on his cell phone. The officer stopped Schroeder at Lincoln Blvd. and East Park Ave., exited his vehicle and approached the Acura. That was when, police said, Schroeder drove off, and the officer returned to his car and gave chase.

Schroeder eventually stopped in front of 325 E. Fulton St., exited the car and fled, police said. The officer gave chase, and caught up with Schroeder, and the two became involved in a struggle. Police said Schroeder resisted and fought with the officer.

Police said that as the struggle ensued, an unidentified good Samaritan tried to help the officer. Soon after, three additional Long Beach police officers arrived on the scene, and broke up the struggle and arrested Schroeder.

According to police, Schroeder — a teacher at Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School and a former star quarterback at Stony Brook University — had three previous convictions for DWI. Police also said that his driver’s license was currently suspended and that he was required to have an interlock device in his vehicle.

Police said that in addition to being issued 21 summonses for both vehicle and traffic law violations, Schroeder was charged with DWI, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlawfully fleeing a police officer while in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device.

Schroeder appeared in Long Beach City Court on Aug. 4 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case was transferred to Nassau County Court, and his next court date is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Petrillo said that after the incident, Schroeder was taken to North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries. Though he did not say what actions he will take against police, he maintained his claims of police brutality. “There was no reason to beat him to the point he’s blind,” Petrillo said. “It was an excessive use of force.”

“It’s unfortunate that this injury occurred, but the officers used the appropriate amount of force,” Meyer said. “It was necessary to affect the arrest.”

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