Two Prince George’s County police officers are facing accusations of police brutality from a D.C. police officer. After completing his Saturday shift, D.C. officer Richard Merritt was outside the Ebony Inn, located in Fairmount Heights, when he was approached by two Prince George’s County police officers. Merritt said the officers ordered him to stand against the wall. “This officer jumped on me, and his partner assisted him. They jumped on my back; they punched me several times in the face,” Merritt said. He said it wasn’t until they retrieved his wallet and saw his badge that the beating stopped. “When he retrieved my ID, he said, ‘You [expletive] D.C. police. You [expletive]…threw it to the left side of my face,” Merritt continued. Merritt was cited for having an open alcohol container and resisting arrest. The Prince George’s County Police Department says officers had to use force to get the 6-foot-10, 340 pound Merritt under control. Merritt filed a $3 million lawsuit against the Prince George’s County department Wednesday, alleging abuse.
