A Baltimore police officer has been charged with choking and beating a man who was restrained in handcuffs, according to spokesman T.J. Smith.
Officer Konstaninos Passamichalis was charged with second degree assault and misconduct in office for the incident that occurred on Sept. 19, 2014.
The incident began with a phone call from two bail bondsmen who needed police to take custody of a fugitive.
Passamichalis and another detective answered the call. The two parties met in a parking lot.
The prisoner has several open warrants out for his arrest and was considered a “possible flight risk,” according to a release from Smith.
The prisoner was taken into custody by Officer Passamichalis and placed into plastic restraints. Officer Passamichalis then grabbed the prisoner around the neck with both hands and assaulted him.
At no time during the incident did it appear that the prisoner made an attempt to flee. After observing the encounter, another detective took control of the prisoner and assisted him into the building.
The case was handed over to internal investigations and presented to the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Passamichalis was suspended and charged criminally.
