Fifth Precinct Protest: Mother Says Police Beat Her Son 'Like an Animal'

A peaceful impromptu demonstration consisting of approximately 30 people was held for two hours Saturday afternoon in front of the in Patchogue to protest an alleged police beating that protesters claim eventually led to the death of 19-year-old Kevin Turner.

Turner's mother, Tawana Turner, tearfully recalled the incident. On April 6, 2010, Kevin Turner, of Mastic Beach, was driving with a friend when police attempted to pull him over at 12:22 a.m. for erratic driving in North Bellport.

As an officer approached Turner's 2006 Kia Sportage, Turner fled. He did so because of a suspended license, his mother said. 

Police say Turner's car then collided with an officer's vehicle after a short pursuit. When the car came to a stop, Turner and his friend jumped out and attempted to flee the scene. As police tried to arrest him, Turner was "combative and violent," according to police.

Tawana Turner says police told her that her son had a knife.

"[The police] claim that Kevin had a knife," Tawana Turner said. "They have a photo of a closed knife that they found in the woods but the knife is nowhere to be found now. They had guns and tasers...If he had a knife, why wasn't he tasered? They had tools to stop him. He shouldn't have been beaten like an animal."

Turner suffered extensive injuries including various cuts and bruises, a brain hemorrhage, black eyes, chipped teeth, a broken nose and massive internal bleeding. Damage to his spleen and pancreas led to both organs being surgically removed.  He was taken to for treatment initially and then transferred to Stony Brook University Medical Center. Admittance as a John Doe led to initial confusion amongst family members as to his whereabouts.

According to Tawana Turner, doctors at Stony Brook stated that he would have had to be traveling at a rate of 100 mph to receive such injuries from the crash. The brain damage led to a coma from which he briefly woke from in August uttering the words "Figure it out."  Turner died on January 2.

The two officers involved in the incident were treated for minor injuries.

The family's attorney Kenneth Auerbach said: "The Suffolk County U.S. Attorney's Office has referred the case to the U.S. Attorney's Civil Rights Division. They are handling the investigation at this time."

Lieutenant James Kirby from the Fifth Precinct said that no advance notice was given for Saturday's protest.

"They were very orderly and very polite," Kirby said of the protesters. "They came to the precinct to express their message very peacefully. We provided a safe environment for them to do so by stopping traffic [along Waverly Ave.] and cordoning off the sidewalk."

Kirby said he could not comment on the Turner case because the incident is still under investigation.

Turner's older sister, Katia Turner said: "The cops responsible for this should pay for what they've done and it should be done as soon as possible. I lost my brother; I don't really know life without him. He didn't deserve this." 

The family said they are not blaming the entire police force. They just want the individuals responsible for the incident to be held accountable.

"This is the first tragedy in my family," Tawana Turner said. "My son is a break in the chain. It has been really hard on all of us. There's an absence that comes with a loved one being taken so tragically.

"He was a son, a brother, a grandson and a father to two kids. His kids are two years old now and will never know their dad. The cops should have locked him up, not beat him up."