Jurors side with cops in ex-police sergeant's unlawful-arrest allegation

FORMER Philadelphia Police Sgt. Brandon Ruff alleged that his arrest last year was unlawful and done with excessive force, but a federal jury didn't see it that way.

After an hour of deliberation yesterday, the jury unanimously dismissed his claims of wrongful arrest and use of excessive force against six 35th District officers when Ruff tried to turn in three guns at the station in August.

"The officers are very relieved and satisfied with their day in court and the jury's decision," said Chief Deputy City Solicitor Craig Straw, who represented the defendants.

Seeking monetary damages, Ruff, 28, sued the six 35th District cops - Officers Michelle Long, Ivene Echels, Angelina Bednarz, John Thompson and Marc Monachello; and Sgt. Donna Bachmayer.

"I'm not surprised; this is the Philadelphia Police Department," Ruff said after the verdict was read. "It was stereotyping." Ruff said that if he were "a different color," things would have turned out differently.

According to testimony, Ruff, who is African-American, entered the 35th District, at Broad and Champlost streets in Ogontz, on Aug. 3, his day off, intending to turn in three unloaded firearms inside a bag. He did not want to give his name and did not identify himself as a cop, although he was a sergeant in Powelton's 16th District at the time.

Deputy Chief Solicitor Brock Atkins said in his closing argument that Ruff's decisions had caused the incident. He said the former sergeant should have known that he could not drop off guns with no questions asked.

"It may be a harsh word in this case, but they contrived a story," Ruff's attorney, Michael Pileggi, said of the 35th District cops in his closing argument yesterday.

Echels testified on Monday that Ruff gave her his name as Ryan Jones in the 35th District lobby. Ruff testified that he gave her the name of his friend, DeRyan Jones, and said Jones gave him the guns.

After Ruff walked out of the station that day, officers believed he was leaving and pursued him. Ruff was handcuffed after cops noticed he had a gun. The defendants testified that Ruff was resisting arrest.

Ruff testified that he gave a code identifying himself as an officer and that two cops held Tasers to his chest and ribs. But 35th District cops said he did not identify himself as a cop outside.

On Feb. 2, Ruff was charged with a misdemeanor offense of false identification to law enforcement and then fired from the police force. He faces a criminal trial in January 2016.