Charges filed against Peoria man claiming police brutality, bias
Hotel room damaged in Feb. incident

Brent Whiting
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 18, 2003 12:00 AM

PEORIA - Criminal charges have been filed against a Peoria man, the focus of police brutality and racism claims.

The charges against Damian M. Stone, 18, stem from a fracas at a Peoria hotel Feb. 1.

Stone's father, John M. Stone, has accused police of inflicting a brutal beating that required hospital care for his son.

The elder Stone, 46, also has accused police of racism, saying his son, who is Black, was attacked outside the hotel by a group of White officers.

Dave Leonardo, the Peoria police chief, has denied both allegations, saying there is no evidence of any racism.

Leonardo also says Damian's injuries "appear to have been sustained before the officers contacted him."

On Friday, prosecutors filed a misdemeanor complaint in the Peoria Municipal Court charging Damian with criminal damage, disorderly conduct and underage consumption of alcohol.

He is scheduled for a May 21 arraignment at the court.

Neither Damian nor his father could be reached Thursday for comment on the charges, each of which carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Damian is accused, among other things, of causing more than $250 worth of room damages during a party at the La Quinta Inn, 16231 N. 83rd Ave.

Police say they were called Feb. 1 to investigate reports of a disturbance inside the room.

They say Damian was intoxicated when they confronted him outside the hotel. They say he became loud and aggressive when they questioned him about a gash over his right eye.

Stone "was walking in circles, flaying (sic) his arms around and speaking incoherently," according to a report later released by police.

Stone told police he hurt his eye by falling over a fence and hitting his head, the report says.

John Stone has alleged that after the hotel party spun out of control, responding Peoria officers singled out his son for heavy-handed treatment.

John turned down repeated requests by the press seeking interviews with his son.

In their report, police said Damian, a senior at Sunrise Mountain High School, told officers that following a dispute with his girlfriend, he became upset and "fell over a fence and hit my head," resulting in the bloody injury.

Blood later was discovered in a hotel bathroom, likely from Stone's cut, they said.

Officers said Stone was taken to Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City, where he became disorderly when he was offered treatment. Maricopa County sheriff's deputies were called to look into the matter.

On his way to the hospital, Damian said, "I want your badge numbers because my dad's going to sue you," police said.

Sgt. Dee Dyson, a police spokesman, said officers have conducted a formal "administrative inquiry" into John Stone's allegations.

Dyson said the report is being reviewed and is expected to be made public next week.

Reach the reporter at brent.whiting@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6937.