Web Extra: Excessive force case cost Springfield $20,000

May 04, 2012|by Paul Adler, KY3 News / Follow Paul on Facebook, Twitter @KY3Pad

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The City of Springfield paid $20,000 in 2011 to a man who accused the police department of excessive force after his arrest in May of 2008.

John Sedersten filed the Civil Rights Complaint in January 2009. Sedersten wrote in his complaint that the arresting officer came to the jail a few hours after a traffic stop that led to his arrest.

Sedersten wrote that Officer Morris Taylor, “came into my holding sell (sic) and beat me while I was sleeping.” Sedersten went on to say in his complaint that Taylor “relocated me to 2 other locations in the facility while continuing to beat on me.”

A Springfield Police Department investigation accused Taylor of striking Sedersten in the side with his knee and punching Sedersten in the head two times with a closed fist. A booking officer reported Sedersten was hit three or four times by Taylor. The report also says "Morris Taylor was yelling and cursing while he was interacting with Sedersten."

Later, KY3 also reported on the Springfield Police Department’s reaction to the accusation.

“Chief of Police Lynn Rowe says he had no choice but to fire one of his officers. He says video surveillance still in the evidence room showed Officer Morris Taylor crossed the line. The prosecutor agrees. (Taylor) He's been fired," the KY3 News report said.

KY3 News also reported on Sedersten’s arrest.

"Four people from Springfield are accused of identity theft, and of passing more than $100,000 in counterfeit checks. John Sedersten, Max Snodgrass, Bryan Ray and Karen Harris were indicted by a federal grand jury. Sedersten allegedly used fake checks to make nine withdrawals from a Greene County Sheriff's Department account, then made more than $34,000 in purchases," KY3 News reported.

In 2010, Sedersten admitted he stole people's identity and checking account information to make fake driver's licenses and for bogus checks. KY3 News archives show he used the fake IDs to buy more than $55,000 from local businesses. Some of the checks were used to draw money from the Greene County Sheriff's Department account. He was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay $82,000 in restitution.

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