Black man stomped by South Carolina officer gets $650K

By JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina city is paying $650,000 to a Black man who was stomped in the head by a police officer upset that the man couldn’t quickly lie flat on his stomach because of rods and pins in his leg. Orangeburg officials also have apologized to 58-year-old Clarence Gailyard and are reviewing police policies. Gailyard was walking with a stick wrapped in shiny tape in July when someone mistook the reflective object for a gun and called 911. Investigators say officer David Lance Dukes ordered Gailyard to the ground and stomped on his head and neck when he didn’t immediately drop. Dukes was fired and charged with first-degree assault and battery.