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Northeast Man Battered by Des Moines Police Receives $800,000 Settlement

$800,000 of taxpayer money will settle an excessive force settlement filed by a northeast Iowa man who was battered by two Des Moines police officers.

On this news buzz edition of River to River, host Ben Kieffer is joined by Des Moines-based Associated Press Reporter David Pitt who discusses his reporting on the lawsuit brought by Dustin Burnikel against officer Michael Fong and Sargent Greg Wessel of the Des Moines Police Department and the city of Des Moines. A federal judge found last month that the two officers used excessive force and committed battery against Burnikel. Both remain on the police force.

 

At the top of the hour, Kieffer speaks with Peter Hanson, associate professor of political science at Grinnell College, and Caleb Elfenbein, associate professor of religious studies and history about the latest findings of the Grinnell College National Poll, conducted in conjunction with nationally recognized pollster Ann Selzer.

 

Kieffer also speaks with Mick Barry, president of Mid America Recycling, about a decision to send several months of curbside recyclable materials to a landfill in central Iowa after the company was unable to find a buyer.

 

The hour finishes with a conversation with Kathy Bolton, Higher Education and Public Safety report for the Des Moines Register who has been covering a recent conflict between administrators at Grinnell College and members of the student body working to expand a union for student workers.

 

 

Katelyn Harrop is a producer for IPR's River to River and Talk of Iowa
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River