Christopher Coleman, Paul Van Dalen, Sean Plymale, Michael Manfredi, Civil Rights Violations, California 2005

Four former and current Fresno, California police officers have been indicted for their alleged roles in the assault of a man in their custody in October 2005.

According to a federal indictment, Christopher Coleman, Paul Van Dalen, Sean Plymale, and Michael Manfredi are each charged with deprivation of rights under color of law.

Coleman is accused of using a 12-gauge shotgun to repeatedly shoot the victim with less-lethal ammunition, which consists of a flexible material that is filled with metal shot. Despite its name, less-lethal ammunition can cause death or serious bodily injury.

Coleman is also charged with driving a speeding vehicle at the victim, putting him in fear for his life. Van Dalen is accused of repeatedly kicking the victim in the side and stepping on his ankle.

Plymale and Manfredi are each charged with one count of misprision of a felony for their knowing concealment of the assault carried out by Coleman and Van Dalen. All four defendants also are charged with one count of falsifying an official report to obstruct justice.

The case is being investigated by the Fresno Field Office of the FBI and will be prosecuted by Trial Attorney Benjamin J. Hawk of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Rooney and Elana S. Landau of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant Christopher Coleman, 42, is accused of deprivation of rights under color of law, driving at a speed likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, and falsifying an official report to obstruct justice. Defendant Paul Van Dalen, 44, is accused of deprivation of rights under color of law and falsifying an official report to obstruct justice. Defendant Sean Plymale, 41, is accused of misprision of a felony and falsifying an official report to obstruct justice. Defendant Michael Manfredi, 50, is accused of misprision of a felony and falsifying an official report to obstruct justice. The crime occurred on October 2005, in Fresno, California. The outcome of the case is pending.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/four-california-police-officers-indicted-civil-rights-charges