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ACLU and Dover Police settle in Lateef Dickerson suit

Delaware Public Media

The ACLU and the city of Dover have settled a lawsuit over an alleged excessive use of force by a local police officer in 2013 -- but they're releasing few other details.

Dover Police Cpl. Thomas Webster was acquitted of a felony assault charge last month. It came after a 2013 dash cam video showed Webster kicking Lateef Dickerson in the head while detaining him, breaking his jaw and knocking him out.

Webster's assault charge came from the state, but the ACLU's suit was separate. Filed in 2014, it demanded compensation for Dickerson, and called for Dover PD to change their policies around training and investigations into similar incidents.

The ACLU's suit was resolved in a district court filing dated Dec. 30, 2015 and made public this week. It says only that each party will handle its own associated costs.

State ACLU executive director Kathleen MacRae wouldn't comment further on details of the settlement. Dover Police referred comments to city. Officials there and in Dickerson's attorney's office did not return requests for comment.

Settlement: ACLU/Dickerson-DPD Suit Dismissal

Original suit: ACLU Dickerson Complaint - Sept. 2014

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