In April 2005, Officer James Freed participated in the arrest of Reynaldo Lopez, a disabled man. Freed assisted Officer Patrick Maczko in subduing Lopez, who was accused of driving without a valid license and allegedly striking Maczko. During the arrest, Freed struck Lopez’s wrist with his flashlight, and both officers handcuffed and transported Lopez to the patrol car. Observers noted that Lopez was dragged across the pavement and ‘tossed’ into the patrol car, prompting concerns about the use of excessive force. The incident led to internal reviews within the department. ([casetext.com](https://casetext.com/case/lande-v-city-of-bethlehem-3?utm_source=openai))
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/officer-james-freed-bethlehem-police-department/)
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