The Boston Police Department says they have almost completed their internal investigation of a brutality case that happened nearly six years ago at a Boston bar, despite never collecting crucial video evidence.
Tuesday will mark six years from the date that Jacob Carnelli was attacked, which is the statute of limitations for assault and battery, making a false police report, and most other crimes in Massachusetts, which means it’s almost certain Boston police officer Adarbaad Karani will not face any criminal charges as a result of his actions.
Lieutenant Detective Michael McCarthy, the department’s spokesman, said that the department has nearly completed their internal affairs investigation of the incident.
In response to a public records request, McCarthy also stated that the department doesn’t have the surveillance video depicting Carnelli being attacked.
McCarthy would not comment on why the department planned to close the investigation without the video or why it would not be closed until after the statute of limitations was set to expire.
“The internal investigation is still open. As such we cannot comment,” he said.
We reached out to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, but neither have responded.
When Carnelli Met Karani
On June 9, 2009, Boston police officer Karani and bouncers at the Revolution Rock Bar were caught on video attacking Carnelli, causing severe injuries that included a broken jaw and multiple concussions.
Carnelli, who was very intoxicated that night, was removed from the bar by bouncers, but later returned to retrieve his credit card which he had left behind.
The police report states that Karani told other officers who arrived on the scene that Carnelli shoved him in an attempt to get back into the bar, but then “ran away and ran from the officer and left the area without further incident.”
The police report also cites bar employees who claimed that Carnelli “fell to the ground several times and that at no time did anyone strike him” as an explanation for his injuries.
But surveillance video from bar obtained by Fox 25 shows Carnelli standing in the doorway, talking with Karani and bouncers. Video doesn’t lie, but the Boston police do.
Carnelli never pushed Karani.
Eventually, Karani and the bouncers dragged Carnelli outside the bar and threw him to the ground. Karani climbed on top of Carnelli, forcing his knee into the man’s back.
Carnelli was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, but the charge was later dismissed by a judge.
Last year, he received a $100,000 settlement from the bar and a $300,000 settlement from the city as part of a personal injury lawsuit.
Karani is still employed by the police department, where he took home $113,691.66 last year, according to The Boston Globe.
Tell these Law Enforcement officials your opinion of their internal affairs process:
Boston Police Department: (617) 343-4500
Suffolk County District Attorney: (617) 619-4000
