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by Larry Seward / KHOU 11 News
khou.com
Posted on January 28, 2012 at 5:48 PM
Updated Sunday, Jan 29 at 1:01 PM
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Outrage grows over woman's allegations that HPD officers beat her
Police union denies officers brutalized Houston couple
HOUSTON—A mother has accused three Houston police officers of brutality. She said they bruised and punched her in the face over a cell phone video.
Her face is bruised, left arm swollen, lips are busted in two places and her back is scarred. Annika Lewis claims all of those injuries came at the hands of three Houston police officers.
“I am very stunned,” Lewis said. “I always thought, you know, people got beat by police because they were resisting arrest.”
Lewis’ husband, Sebastian Prevot, was taken into custody Friday morning and charged with resisting arrest. Houston police declined to comment on his case and said the incident report would not be available until Monday.
On the phone, Prevot said he did not stop far enough behind a stop sign. Prevot said he was pulled over then beaten in front of his northeast Houston home. Lewis, who was inside, came out armed with her cell phone. She said she recorded video until officers took her memory card.
“What they did is violate her first amendment rights,” said Deric Muhammad, a community activist.
Last Thursday, Muhammad and others organized a community town hall meeting for northeast patrol officers to hear personal stories of alleged police abuse and profiling. However, after what happened to Lewis, Muhammad is calling for more.
“This is just another example of what it is we discussed with the citizens on Thursday,” Muhammad said. “We want to send a strong message to HPD that this is not going to fly.”
To ensure that it does not, Lewis is filing a two-page complaint letter with internal affairs and the FBI.
Houston police, through a spokesperson, declined comment on Lewis’ claims. A spokesperson said if she files a complaint, it will be taken very seriously.
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