A veteran Norwood police officer who was investigation for allegedly pushing a handcuffed prisoner into a wall and breaking her arm, has resigned his job. 40 year old Robert Ward also entered a "no contest" plea today to an assault charge related to the incident., which was caught on surveillance video at the police department jail.
Ward, a 16-year veteran, was put on paid administrative leave while a special prosecutor looked into the case. After his plea today, he was sentenced to a 180 day jail sentence, which was then suspended.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on August 11th when 30-year-old Denise Diallo of Lexington came to the police station to ask about some property in a previous case. She was told that nothing could be done.
According to the police report, Diallo then slammed the phone against the wall. Officer Ward came into the lobby, there was an argument and Diallo was told she was under arrest. The police report says she ran away and was taken to the ground by Officer Ward and another cop.
The report says Diallo scratched and kicked at the officers. She was then brought back to the jail-where the video shows Officer Ward basically throwing the handcuffed woman against the wall. She was later taken to the hospital. "There was a use of force report and we do a review of each use of force report, so when they realized what happened at the jail and then pulled the video that's when we observed the behavior."
Charges of resisting arrest and criminal trespass against Diallo have been dropped.
