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Man Says Cops Beat Him Over Radio Mishap

(CN) - A black Miami Beach man claims in court that he was racially profiled, beat up and falsely arrested by three police officials all because he accidentally turned up the volume of his car radio after being asked to turn it down.

As recounted in a complaint filed in Miami-Dade County on Oct. 13, Bernard Williams was driving "in a normal and safe fashion" in heavy traffic in Miami Beach on May 26, 2013, when was approached by three police officers defendants Leon Azicri, James Nolan and Charles Weiss who ordered him to turn down his radio.

"Williams lowered the volume, but in the process of reaching for the volume control, he accidentally hit it so that the volume was actually turned up for a brief moment before he could lower it," the complaint says.

Williams says that even though he had done nothing wrong Officer Azicri became aggravated, and told him "put the fucking car in park, you are going to jail."

He alleges that after he parked his vehicle and as he was undoing his seatbelt, Officer Weiss grabbed his neck, "yanked him out of the car, spun him around, and, without provocation, smashed his face into the roof of his vehicle, causing him to lose a dental cap."

The police officers continued the assault on Williams by punching and kicking his torso, and slamming him to the ground, the complaint says.

Williams says that even though he begged the officers to stop and screamed in pain, they ignored his pleadings and told him "your black ass is faking nigger."

Williams says that after he was handcuffed and placed in a transport van, he told the police officers he had a surgically repaired shoulder, but the officers ignored his pleas and continued to punch him about the face and shoulders.

According to the complaint, the police officers also damaged Williams' vehicle by being purposefully heavy-handed while performing a search.

Williams was charged with a noise ordinance violation and resisting arrest with violence, but both charges were later dropped.

Williams says after he was released from custody, he went to the police station to file a complaint against the officers, only to have the harassment from them resume.

He claims that Nolan blew a kiss at him when he first saw him, and then he returned with Weiss and other officers who surrounded him.

Williams says Nolan tried to intimate him by telling him. "pussy boy, you fuck ass nigger, you're talking to IA, I will fuck you up."

Williams says that he tried to evade the officers, but they followed him outside and called him a "nigger" and told him "we don't tolerate mother fuckers talking to IA."

"Williams sustained multiple injuries as a result of the unwarranted beating, and emotional damage as a result of the fear, racial profiling, and intimidation levied upon him by the officers," the complaint says.

He seeks compensatory damages on claims of false arrest and imprisonment, excessive force and battery.

He is represented by Michael Feiler from Feiler & Leach PL in Coral Gables, Fla.

Melissa Berthier, the Public Relations Manager for the City of Miami Beach, said that the city does not comment on ongoing litigation.

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