A handicapped man who claimed he was beaten by a Youngstown cop after a car crash last month had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit at the time, said authorities.
Authorities also said Friday they believe Willie Daniel, who said he was beaten by Officer Robert Jolliff, was driving at the time of the crash.
Daniel, who is paralyzed from the waist down, had claimed the truck he was riding in slid off the road and hit a pole in late February. He said his brother was driving and then left for help. A tow truck driver called police saying Daniel asked him not to call and that he thought Daniel had a gun in the vehicle, though none was ever found.
Daniel said when police arrived, Jolliff reached in the car, punched him and threw him in the street. Daniel has maintained he wasn't driving and faces charges of OVI and driving under suspension. City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said Friday he received a report showing Daniel's blood alcohol level registered at .152.
An internal investigation began a few days after the incident but is not yet complete.
However, Chief Jimmy Hughes said earlier this week there is some indication there was some wrongdoing on Jolliff's part during the arrest. Hughes also said he is concerned about an incident where Jolliff collapsed during his shift last week. Jolliff was allegedly meeting with another officer involved in Daniel's case at the time. He is now on sick leave.
